Stroke is considered the most common cause of aphasia, resulting from brain damage caused by a blocked or ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Loss of blood to the brain leads to the death of brain cells and damage to the areas of the brain that control language. This resulting damage causes impairments in speaking, self-expression, and understanding spoken language.

Other causes of aphasia include Alzheimer's disease, dementia, brain tumors, brain aneurysms, epilepsy, and, usually temporarily, migraines.

Causes of Aphasia include:

* Stroke
* Brain hemorrhage
* Alzheimer's disease
* Dementia
* Brain tumor
* Brain aneurysm
* Brain surgery
* Cerebral hypoxia
* Epilepsy
* Migraine (temporary)
* Toxins and poisoning
* Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)