What term describes the inability to speak, write, or understand language due to brain injury or disease?

The term that describes the inability to speak, write, or understand language due to brain injury or disease is aphasia. This condition results from damage to areas of the brain that are crucial for language processing, such as Broca's area or Wernicke's area. Individuals with aphasia may struggle with various aspects of communication; some might find it challenging to express themselves verbally, while others may have difficulty comprehending spoken or written language.

Aphasia can manifest in different forms, including expressive aphasia (difficulty in producing language) and receptive aphasia (difficulty in understanding language). The essence of aphasia is its relation to language deficits stemming from neurological factors, making it distinct from other terms that refer to different types of impairments or disabilities.

In contrast, apraxia is characterized by difficulty with motor planning to perform tasks or movements when asked, despite the individual being physically capable. Agnosia refers to the inability to recognize sensory stimuli, often despite intact sensory function. Dysphasia, while somewhat similar, typically indicates a less severe form of language impairment compared to aphasia. Therefore, the correct term to define the inability to communicate due to brain injury or disease is indeed aphasia.