Beyond Words: Social Biases of Aphasia’s Misconceptions

Written by: Ada Zhou

Edited by: Shivani Shah

Following an ischemic stroke in May of 2022, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman developed a form of aphasia that affected his auditory processing, making it difficult for him to understand spoken language. His pauses, stutters, and word substitutions became fuel for public mockery; many unfairly questioned his competence and ability to lead, despite his cognition remaining fully intact. During a 2023 committee hearing, Fetterman reflected, “I was ridiculed and made fun of because I wasn’t able to process things at times.”

Fetterman’s case made headlines that shined a light on what 15 million others with aphasia endure worldwide (Ivanova & Dronkers, 2022). As a language disorder, aphasia affects how someone communicates, not how they think. However, rather than a misunderstanding of aphasia itself, the misconception that individuals with aphasia are intellectually impaired stems from a deeper societal bias: a tendency to attribute eloquence to intelligence.

Standardized American English (SAE) and proper grammar/rhetoric are reinforced as the societal norm from classrooms to the public media; consequently, the “good” speaker is assumed to be “smarter” or higher-educated than a “bad” speaker. Aside from Senator Fetterman’s speeches being faced with such disdain, this bias is also applicable to the widespread condescension and discrimination on non-native English speakers in America, particularly immigrants. In both cases, communication deviations from a narrow linguistic standard are baselessly equated with lacking cognitive abilities.

With help from assistive technologies, many people with aphasia can express their thoughts how they intend to.These tools include speech-to-text programs, text-to-speech software, communication boards, and captioning services (Brandeis, 2025)—all of which help bridge the gap between thought and expression. For example, Senator Fetterman used real-time closed captioning during interviews and debates to better process spoken language. Rather than viewing these tools as signs of limitation, we should recognize them as empowering strategies that enable fuller participation in conversations, workplaces, and public life. Just as glasses help people see and wheelchairs help people move, assistive technologies for communication help individuals express their ideas—and deserve to be normalized and respected as part of an inclusive society.

But dispelling the stigmas surrounding aphasia doesn’t end with technology. It also requires a shift in how we listen, engage, and advocate as a society. Learning about aphasia and other speech-language conditions enables us to better support friends, family, coworkers, or community members who may be navigating communication symptoms. Besides providing assistive technologies or allowing more time for responses, simply respecting other ways of expression can go a long way. Most importantly, we should abandon the idea that fluency equals intelligence. If we refrain from judging how a person is speaking, we can pay more attention to what they have to say.

References:

Ivanova, M. V., & Dronkers, N. F. (2022, April 4). Aphasia: How our language system can“break.” Frontiers for young minds. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9635485/

Assistive technology products. Assistive Technology Products | Resources for Volunteers Supporting Adults and Youth with Disabilities | All Volunteer Training | Department of Student Engagement | Brandeis University. (2025). https://www.brandeis.edu/student-engagement/community/volunteer-training/inclusion-resources/assistive-technology.html 

TheIndependent. 2024. John Fetterman gets emotional describing ‘ridicule’ he faces after stroke. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7KazXXD1-0&ab_channel=TheIndependent