What term describes the loss of the ability to read, usually as a result of a brain injury?

The term that describes the loss of the ability to read, typically resulting from a brain injury, is "alexia." This condition specifically affects reading comprehension and recognition, and it can occur due to various types of brain damage, such as that caused by stroke, head trauma, or certain neurological disorders.

In the context of language processing, alexia can manifest in different ways, potentially impacting an individual's ability to recognize written language while leaving other language skills, such as speaking and understanding spoken language, intact.

While aphasia deals with a more general loss of language abilities, affecting both expressive and receptive language skills, alexia is focused solely on reading. Echolalia refers to the involuntary repetition of phrases or sounds, which is not related to reading impairment. Hyperlexia is characterized by advanced reading skills, often seen in children, but it does not pertain to the loss of reading abilities. Therefore, "alexia" is the most appropriate term for the specific loss of reading capability following a brain injury.