Arteriovenous Malformation

A tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins directly, bypassing the normal capillary network. AVMs most often occur in the brain or spinal cord and can rupture, causing hemorrhagic stroke, seizures, or progressive neurological damage. When an AVM affects language areas of the brain it can cause aphasia and related communication disabilities, making AVM a recognized etiology in aphasia and AAC research populations alongside ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury.