Laura Thorburn, M.S., CCC-SLP
Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to speak, understand, read, or write. It’s most commonly caused by a stroke or brain injury. There are two main types: expressive (or Broca’s) aphasia, which means trouble speaking and/or writing, and receptive (or Wernicke’s) aphasia, which means trouble understanding and/or reading language.
Key takeaways
Expressive and receptive aphasia are two different language breakdowns. Expressive affects speaking and writing, while receptive affects understanding language.
Broca’s aphasia and Wernicke’s aphasia are the clinical terms: Broca’s is typically expressive, and Wernicke’s is typically receptive.
Speech can be misleading in receptive aphasia. Someone may speak fluently, but their message may not make sense or may not reflect what they understand.
Aphasia does not affect intelligence. People with aphasia are still thinking clearly; the issue is communication ability, not cognition.
Aphasia recovery is possible but depends on the location and severity of the brain injury, plus how early and consistently speech therapy is provided.
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Get startedWhat is expressive vs. receptive aphasia?
Expressive vs. receptive aphasia describes two main types of language problems. Aphasia itself happens when the brain is damaged. This is often due to a stroke or head injury. Aphasia affects communication, not intelligence.
Aphasia can impact language in different ways:
Expressive aphasia: Trouble speaking and/or writing
Receptive aphasia: Trouble understanding and/or reading language
Some people have both types of aphasia. But no matter the type, aphasia doesn’t take away a person’s thoughts. It changes how those thoughts are expressed or understood.
Expressive aphasia, aphasia symptoms, and more. Learn what causes aphasia, what aphasia sounds like, and how aphasia is treated.
Key differences between expressive and receptive aphasia
In terms of symptoms, the difference between the two aphasia types comes down to sending a message vs. understanding one.
People with expressive aphasia:
Know what they want to say
Struggle to form words
Use short phrases
People with receptive aphasia:
Speak in full sentences
Have trouble understanding others
May not notice errors in their speech
Broca’s aphasia vs. Wernicke’s aphasia
When discussing expressive vs. receptive aphasia, two clinical terms are often used:
Broca’s aphasia = expressive aphasia
Wernicke’s aphasia = receptive aphasia
These names come from areas of the brain linked to language.
Broca’s aphasia explained
Broca’s aphasia is a form of expressive aphasia. Speech is slow and effortful. Sentences are often short.
Common symptoms of Broca’s aphasia:
Leaving out small words (for example, saying “want… water”)
Strong understanding of speech
People with expressive aphasia often describe having the right words “stuck” in their head. This can feel frustrating, because the message is clear but hard to express.
Learn what Broca's aphasia is, the symptoms of Broca’s aphasia, how it's treated, and 10 tips for communicating with a person who has aphasia.
Wernicke’s aphasia explained
Wernicke’s aphasia is a form of receptive aphasia. Speech is fluent but may lack meaning.
Common symptoms of Wernicke’s aphasia:
Long sentences
Incorrect or made-up words
Difficulty understanding speech
Here’s a receptive aphasia example. If asked, “Do you want tea or coffee?,” a person might say, “Yes, the coffee runs with the sky spoon.”
The sentence sounds smooth, and the rhythm sounds normal. But the message does not make sense. The person also may not recognize that their communication is unclear.
Learn the main symptoms of Wernicke’s aphasia, how Wernicke’s aphasia is treated, and helpful tips for communicating with a person who has aphasia.
How speech therapy helps with expressive vs. receptive aphasia
Speech therapy is key for aphasia recovery. A speech-language pathologist evaluates the person’s current language skills and determines the need to address receptive and/or expressive language skills. The speech therapist works with the person to build a personalized plan of care that will address their functional needs and quickly get them on the road to communicating.
Treatment for expressive aphasia includes:
Improving word finding
Building sentences
Using pacing
Writing words and phrases
The goal of speech therapy is not just better speech—it’s better communication in real-world situations.
Treatment for receptive aphasia includes:
Improving listening
Reading functional items
Practicing following directions
Speech therapy focuses on real-life skills. This helps people better communicate in daily life.
If you’re having a hard time recalling words, speech therapy can help. Learn some common therapy strategies used to treat word-finding trouble.
Daily at-home strategies that help with aphasia
If you are experiencing expressive and/or receptive aphasia, here are some simple strategies that can help.
For expressive aphasia:
Take your time
Use gestures to communicate, such as pointing
Practice key phrases
For receptive aphasia:
Ask your communication partner to speak more slowly
Break ideas into steps
Use visual cues, such as pointing or gestures
Support from others matters. Look to friends and family for encouragement and chances to practice.
Here are 12 tips that family, friends, and caregivers can use to communicate with a loved one with aphasia.
Why early treatment matters for aphasia
At Expressable, we frequently work with adults navigating aphasia after a stroke or brain injury. One of the most common and emotional questions we hear is, “Will I ever be able to communicate clearly again?”
Early speech therapy can improve outcomes. The brain responds best soon after injury. However, even if speech therapy wasn’t able to start right away, it can still help. Each person’s journey is different. With support, progress is possible.
Our licensed speech therapists provide personalized, online speech therapy focused on real-life communication. We help clients improve word finding, understanding, and conversation skills. Because therapy is online, it’s also easier for family or caregivers to attend alongside the person and learn how to support them at home.
If you or a loved one is living with aphasia, you don’t have to figure it out alone. We’re here to help you regain the words that mean so much to you. Get matched with a speech therapist here.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Expressive aphasia affects speaking and writing. Receptive aphasia affects understanding language. This is the core difference.
Yes, many people improve over time. Speech therapy and practice are key. Recovery depends on the individual.
They often have difficulty understanding speech. People with Wernicke’s aphasia may hear words but not grasp meaning. This affects their ability to have a conversation.
Yes, but their writing may be unclear. It often reflects their speech patterns. When a person has Wernicke’s aphasia, their words may not match their intended meaning.
How Expressable Can Help
Concerned your child isn't reaching age-expected milestones? Looking for communication support from a professional? Expressable is a national online speech and occupational therapy practice serving children and adults. We treat all major areas of communication, feeding, and developmental skills, offer flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and accept most major health insurance plans. We’re proud to have earned more than 4,500 5-star reviews from our clients (4.83/5 average).
Our therapy model is centered on parent and caregiver involvement. Research proves that empowering caregivers to participate in their loved one’s therapy leads to better outcomes. That’s why we combine live, 1-on-1 speech and occupational therapy with personalized education and home practice activities for faster progress.
