Word-finding difficulty
“Word-finding difficulty” refers to trouble retrieving the right word during speech or writing, even though the person knows what they want to say.
It is also known as:
Anomia (medical term)
Dysnomia (less commonly)
Common signs:
Pausing mid-sentence while trying to recall a word
Using vague words like “thing” or “stuff”
Describing the word instead (“the thing you use to cut paper” instead of “scissors”)
Getting frustrated during a conversation
Possible causes:
Neurological conditions like stroke, brain injury, dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's)
Aphasia (language impairment due to brain damage)
Fatigue, stress, or normal aging
Occasionally, seen in migraine aura or seizure-related phenomena