Expert Insights: Bruce Willis’ aphasia diagnosis draws attention to cognitive disorder

Bruce Willis speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con International - Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons. Until the recent news that Bruce Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia and was retiring from acting, many people were unfamiliar with the condition. Despite its low profile, aphasia is not uncommon. Across Canada and the United States , it's estimated that more than two million people are living with aphasia and its associated challenges in communication and in using and understanding language. Aphasia affects language abilities, including listening, speaking, reading and writing. Some common language symptoms that occur in individuals living with aphasia are: Difficulty coming up with the right word. An individual might use a related word (for example, they may say or write "daughter" when trying to find the word "niece") or even use a made up word (for example, say or write "pitsy" when trying to find the word "niece").