310 000 aphasiques en France, un coût annuel dépassant le milliard d’euros - Un handicap de communication à lourde souffrance, méconnu et absent des politiques publiques, Rapport de recherche, Aix-Marseille Université: Rapport de recherche, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Méditerranéen des Sciences de l’Information et de la Communication, EA 7492

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder, most often resulting from a stroke, which durably impairs communication without affecting intelligence or reasoning abilities. Among all human diseases and disabilities, aphasia is the one that generates the most intense psychological and social suffering. Yet this major communication disability remains largely unknown. In France, both the number of people affected and the overall economic cost of aphasia remain insufficiently documented. This article aims to estimate these two dimensions. Two complementary studies were conducted. The first is based on the articulation of national and international epidemiological data within a stepwise estimation framework in order to assess the number of people living with aphasia in France. The second relies on a method validated in health economics to estimate the annual economic cost of aphasia in France, integrating healthcare costs, productivity losses, and informal care. The results indicate that approximately 307,000 people are living with aphasia in France, within a range of 293,000 to 321,000. The annual economic cost of aphasia is estimated at approximately €1.1 billion. By making visible both the human burden and the economic weight of aphasia, this article highlights a major public health and disability policy issue. It underscores the urgency of coordinated actions in support of people with aphasia and their caregivers.