The person wants to say something, but can’t find the right words

Word-finding difficulty, or anomia, occurs when a person struggles to retrieve and articulate the correct words during speech. This can be due to various conditions such as stroke, brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, or other forms of dementia. The symptom often presents as frequent pauses, the use of vague terms, or the substitution of intended words with incorrect ones. Causes also include psychiatric conditions like severe anxiety or depression, which can impair concentration and cognitive function, and certain medications that affect brain function.

Diagnosis generally involves patient history, clinical evaluations, and cognitive assessments, sometimes supplemented by neuroimaging to identify brain abnormalities. Treatment depends on the underlying cause and may include speech therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, medication adjustments, and supportive therapies. Persistent word-finding difficulties should prompt a visit to a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and management.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology