APHASIA

Question 0

Why can many infarcts cause aphasia?

Answer 0

There is no specific brain centre for speech.

Therefore damage to any one area can impair function, cause multiple deficits.

Question 1

What is aphasia?

Answer 1

Complete deficit in forming language

Question 2

What is the role of wernickes?

Answer 2

To transform sensory input into words, so that they can be associated with meaning.

Question 3

BROCAS area role?

Answer 3

To form words that are to be spoken

Question 4

What INFARCT would damage BROCAS? Wernickes?

Answer 4

BROCAS - embolus to superior branch of MCA

Wernickes - embolus to inferior branch of MCA

Question 5

Features of wernickes aphasia?

Answer 5

Comprehension impaired.
But speech fluent, but disorganized.

Naming, repetition, reading and writing all impaired.

Question 6

BROCAS aphasia features?

Answer 6

Comprehension intact.
Speech is non-fluent and usually dysarthric.
Naming and repetition impaired.

Question 7

What area is responsible for receptive dysphasia?

Answer 7

Posterior section of the superior temporal-parietal gyrus (STG).

Question 7

What area is responsible for expressive dysphasia?

Answer 7

Posterior inferior frontal lobe.

Question 8

What test would you do next if you found expressive dysphasia? A receptive dysphasia? A dysarthria?

Answer 8

Expressive -> frontal lobe testing -> assess homonculus.
Receptive ->

Dysarthria -> CN (bulbar exam)