A language disorder resulting from brain damage that involves a loss of the ability to use words is called what?

The correct answer is Aphasia, which specifically refers to a language disorder that arises due to brain damage, typically impacting a person’s ability to produce or comprehend spoken and written language. This condition can affect various aspects of language processing, including vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to articulate words. The most common causes of aphasia include strokes or traumatic brain injuries that result in damage to areas of the brain responsible for language, such as Broca’s area or Wernicke’s area.

In contrast, dyslexia is primarily a reading disorder that affects an individual's ability to process written language, which may include difficulties in decoding words but does not solely pertain to the loss of the ability to use words in general. Apraxia relates to the motor planning required for speech production; it's about coordinating the physical movements needed to communicate rather than losing the capacity to comprehend or produce language. Agnosia is a condition in which a person cannot recognize objects, people, sounds, or smells, which does not specifically address language capabilities.

Therefore, aphasia is the term that accurately captures the loss of the ability to use words due to brain damage, highlighting the specific link between this disorder and linguistic functions.