Loss of speech, also known as aphasia, can be caused by a variety of reasons such as stroke, brain injury or neurological conditions. Synonyms for aphasia include speechlessness, muteness or inability to speak. Other related terms include dysarthria, which refers to difficulty in articulating words, while dysphasia is the reduced ability to understand or express language. Apraxia is another term used to describe problems with coordinating the motor movements needed for speech. Some individuals may also experience partial or intermittent loss of speech which is known as stuttering, stammering or disfluency. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help individuals with these conditions regain their ability to communicate effectively.