12 of 16

Write now Article Tools

Are You Forgetting Words, Names and Things
Dysnomia? Dyslexia? Aphasia? Could you be experiencing this?

I have found that getting older has caused me at times, to have trouble remembering a word I want to use. When this occurs it becomes necessary to try and find a substitute word instead, to say what I'm trying to relay. This is not uncommon as people age, but it is somewhat irritating, I must say.

So I decided to try and find out what caused it. A friend of mine that deals with mental illness told me what this was called, what precipitates the condition, and how can it be treated, sometimes. Even young people can have this aggravating disease at time.

This problem is called Dysnomia or expressive aphasia. Strangely enough, I always said it was sort of a dyslexia of the mind when telling people about the problem. I was right in a sense as there is a relationship between the things. Some people believe that dyslexia is the inability to retrieve short-term memory which causes trouble identifying words. This causes a problem in reading and may be caused by Dysnomia.

Here are some facts you might find of interest:

When you can't remember the right word or a name of someone or something you are trying to use and it is on the tip of your tongue but avoiding you, you may have Dysnomia. However almost everyone suffers from it in small doses, but when you have a great than normal amount of trouble recalling a word and it causes you trouble with your life then you might need help.

A test can be given to tell you the level of your problem by a neurophysiologist to be sure you don't have any physical symptoms. The test is simple and is called rapid automatized naming and it is very easy. You'll be given five pictures of either colors or objects to view on a screen. How fast you respond to the picture and identify these will be evaluated along with your age group. Then the doctor will decide on a treatment if it is necessary.

Depending on whether you have had a stroke, brain injury, Alzheimer's or maybe been exposed to something in the environment, such as a medicine you are taking, treatment may help. If a drug you are taking is causing this as a side effect then they may suggest you change to another prescription. Sometime they recommend a speech therapist but anti depressant drugs have been used also to help this condition. If it is a child that is having this problem, many times they can or will outgrow it.

As we get older, it gets harder to remember a lot of thing. Our mind remembers long term things but short term items like names, where we put our keys, groceries we may need,(unless we write a list) and everything else becomes more difficult and a challenge.. Dysnomia can cause a person problems wit their speech as well with any writing they want to do. But usually, if you sit and think about it for a few minutes the words will come to you, if you have the time, otherwise you may find a substitute word to use in its place that means the same thing.

The name Dysnomia is derived from the Greek Goddess who was known for lawlessness and confusion by the way.

Learn more about this author, Robbie Britt.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Health problems and aging?
We want to hear your view. Write now!