2. Difficulty Naming Places: Anomic Aphasia’s Invisible Maze
Another common symptom of anomic aphasia is the inability to remember the names of places. Whether it’s the name of a country, city, or a local store, individuals with anomic aphasia often struggle to find the correct words. Similar to the difficulty in naming objects, this symptom poses a substantial hurdle to effective communication.
Imagine being unable to recall the name of your hometown or the city where you work. This challenge isn’t because of a lack of familiarity or understanding; individuals with anomic aphasia know the place and have memories associated with it, but the specific word or name eludes them. It’s as if they’re navigating a linguistic maze where the exit sign is inexplicably missing.
To cope with this issue, people with anomic aphasia often find themselves describing the place in question. For example, instead of saying “Paris,” they might say, “the city with the Eiffel Tower.” These descriptions often serve as a workaround, allowing them to convey their point without accessing the elusive word.
This symptom, like others related to anomic aphasia, does not reflect the person’s cognitive abilities or geographical knowledge. Recognizing the distinction between language impairment and cognitive impairment can go a long way in understanding and empathizing with people living with anomic aphasia. (2)
