The Public’s Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Aphasia in Saudi Arabia

Stroke is a leading cause of aphasia. Global studies have shown that there is a lack of awareness and understanding of aphasia among the public. This can impact the public’s attitudes and practices toward aphasia, consequently affecting services and social support. There is currently limited data on the public’s awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and practice of aphasia in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to investigate the public’s awareness, knowledge, attitude, and practice of aphasia in Saudi Arabia. This is a cross-sectional study that used an online questionnaire written in modern standard Arabic. The questionnaire was distributed on social media platforms in Saudi Arabia in July 2023 to 390 participants. The collected data was statistically analyzed. It was found that 60.7% of the participants had never heard of aphasia. Age, occupation, and city of residence influenced awareness, while age, occupation, gender, and employment status played a significant role in knowledge. This study revealed a correlation between knowledge of aphasia and communication, speech, and language. Individuals aware of aphasia highlighted the significance of social support for people with aphasia, and the importance of speech and language pathologists (SLPs) and a multidisciplinary team. It is essential to increase public awareness about aphasia in Saudi Arabia. Awareness efforts should focus on fundamental concepts of communication and aphasia, social involvement, and the crucial role of SLPs in providing services.