The readjustment to disability on the part of spouses of patients disabled by a cerebrovascular accident and the particular problems faced by the spouse of an aphasic patient were studied. In a sample of 79 subjects, spouses of aphasic patients showed evidence of significantly poorer overall social adjustment than spouses of non-aphasic patients. The areas that were particularly impaired were social and leisure activities and marital relationships. In the marital area aphasia appeared to be particularly disruptive and the marriages were characterized by problems of interpersonal communication, diminished sexual satisfaction and loss of partnership. There was a higher incidence of minor psychiatric disorder in all spouses and this was more pronounced among the spouses of aphasic patients.