All::Neurology::Diseases::Aphasia

Intro

What is aphasia?

a disorder where someone is unable to understand or produce speech

In Wernicke's (receptive) aphasia which area of the brain is damaged?

the superior temporal gyrus

In Wernicke's (receptive) aphasia how is a patients comprehension?

impaired

In Wernicke's (receptive) aphasia how is a patients speech?

sentences that make no sense, word substitution and neologisms but speech remains fluent - 'word salad'

In Broca's (expressive) aphasia which area of the brain is damaged?

the inferior frontal gyrus

In Broca's (expressive) aphasia how is a patients comprehension?

normal

In Broca's (expressive) aphasia how is a patients speech?

Speech is non-fluent, laboured, and halting. Repetition is impaired

In Conduction aphasia which area of the brain is damaged?

arcuate fasiculus - the connection between Wernicke's and Broca's area

In Conduction aphasia how is a patients comprehension?

normal

In Conduction aphasia how is a patients speech?

Speech is fluent but repetition is poor. Aware of the errors they are making

In Global aphasia which area of the brain is damaged?

Large lesion effecting the superior temporal gyrus, the inferior frontal gyrus and arcuate fasiculus

In Global aphasia how is a patients speech?

severe expressive and receptive aphasia