Background

Question 0

List four different causes of aphasia, other than cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Answer 0

A. Brain neoplasms
B. Surgical removal of tissue
C. CNS infection
D. Head trauma - TBI

Question 1

What is the most common cause of aphasia?

Answer 1

Stroke (cerebrovascular accident)

Question 2

Provide a definition of ‘aphasia’. Your definition should include 4 distinct facts as outlined by Hallowell & Chapey.

Answer 2

A. Aphasia is neurogenic
B. Aphasia is acquired
C. Aphasia involves language problems
D. Aphasia is NOT a problem of sensation, motor function or intellect

Question 3

A family member asks you, ‘what is Aphasia?’. Provide a lay definition of ‘aphasia’ (I.e. A definition containing no speech pathology and/or medical jargon). Your definition should include 4 distinct points

Answer 3

Aphasia is a language difficulty caused by injury to the brain. It affects communication. Aphasia can make it hard to understand words, to speak, to read, to write and to read. People with aphasia are still intelligent - they know what they want to say but have difficulty getting the words out.

Question 4

A family member asks you, ‘what is a stroke?’. Provide a lay definition of ‘aphasia’ (I.e. A definition containing no speech pathology and/or medical jargon). Your definition should include 2 distinct points

Answer 4

A stroke is a blockage or bleed on the brain that can cause permanent or semi-permanent damage.

Question 5

List four risk factors for cerebrovascular accident that can be controlled

Answer 5

A. Smoking
B. High blood pressure
C. High cholesterol
D. Obesity

Question 6

List two risk factors for cerebrovascular accident that cannot be controlled

Answer 6

A. Age

B. Gender

Question 7

What is the difference between a thrombosis and an embolus?

Answer 7

Thrombosis is an arterial blockage due to build up of fatty plaque on an artery that provides blood flow to the brain (for instance, the internal carotid artery); an embolus is a clot that forms or a piece of fatty plaque that breaks off from somewhere else in the circulatory system and then travels to block off a smaller artery that supplies blood to the brain - heart is most common origin of emboli

Question 8

Define atrial fibrillation

Answer 8

The most common type of irregular heartbeat

Question 9

Define arteriosclerosis

Answer 9

A disease process in which arterial walls become roughened and covered with fatty deposits. These deposits are called atherosclerotic plaque.
Another name is atherosclerosis

Question 10

List two signs of CVA which are included in the Australian National Stroke Foundation’s FAST campaign

Answer 10

F - has their face drooped
A - can they lift both arms
S - is their speech slurred
T - time is critical

Question 11

Approximately how many people develop aphasia post cerebrovascular accident?

Answer 11

One third

Question 12

Damage to which branch of the internal carotid artery frequently results in aphasia?

Answer 12

Middle cerebral artery

Question 13

State the two major types of cerebrovascular accident and identify which is the most common

Answer 13

A. Ischaemic (block) and haemorrhagic (bleed)

B. Ischaemic - most common

Question 14

Define lacunar stroke

Answer 14

A very small ischemic stroke

Typically involves small penetrating arteries that supply blood to structures deep with the brain

Question 15

What is an endarectomy?

Answer 15

Surgical procedure that removes plaque build up within the carotid artery system

Question 16

Provide a definition of embolus and identify the body organ from which emboli most commonly originate

Answer 16

A clot that forms or a piece of fatty plaque that breaks off from somewhere else in the circulatory system and then travels to block off a smaller artery that supplies blood to the brain
B. The heart is the most common origin of emboli

Question 17

Identify which major type of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) may be treated using thrombolytic drugs and state within how many hours post onset (acc. to Murray & Clark 2006) must this drug be given

Answer 17

A. Ischaemic stroke

B. Within 3 hours

Question 18

What is the main difference between an Ischaemic cerebrovascular accident and a haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident

Answer 18

Ischaemic is a block, haemorrhagic is a bleed

Question 19

Define a transient Ischaemic attack and list three symptoms a individual having a TIA may experience

Answer 19

A small and temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain that does not cause permanent brain damage
A. Limb weakness
B. Slurred speech
C. Dizziness

Question 20

What is the primary difference between a transient ischemic attack and a reversible ischemic neurological deficit?

Answer 20

Reversible ischemic neurological deficit (RIND) lasts more than 24 hours, TIA lasts less than 24 hours

Question 21

Define arteriovenous malformation…

Answer 21

A congenital morphological defect resulting in an abnormal cluster of arteries directly connecting to veins: often enlarges over time and is at risk of rupture

Question 22

Define aneurism…

Answer 22

A weak or thin spot on blood vessel that causes the vessel to dilate or balloon

Question 23

Define homonymous hemianopia (also called homonymous hemianopsia)

Answer 23

Loss of vision on the same side in both eyes

Question 24

Define visual neglect

Answer 24

Attentional deficit to one side of the body

Question 25

Define agnosia and provide an example of an agnostic error that may be observed during a language assessment

Answer 25

Inability to recognise objects through an intact social modality while able to recognise them through a different modality

Eg. Not being able to name an object that is presented visually but recognising it on touch

Question 26

Define apraxia in terms of movement disorder associated with stroke

Answer 26

Inability to carry out, on command a motor activity that is easily performed spontaneously - when absence of sensory/muscle problem

Question 27

What is the primary difference between hemiplegia and hemiparesis

Answer 27

Hemiparesis is a muscular weakness on one side of the body, hemiplegia is paralysis on one side of the body

Question 28

Brown & Yule (1983) identify the dual functions of communication. Provide a clear example of a) transactional communication and b) interactional communication that may occur when a passenger communicates with a bus driver. Your example must clearly illustrate the two distinct communication functions

Answer 28

A. Transactional - exchange of information. ‘How much to the city?’
B. Interactional - establish and maintain social relationships. ‘Hello. How are you?’

Question 29

Aphasia can have a profound impact on the person’s life. List eight different impacts (not including the language impairment) aphasia may have on the Person with Aphasia’s life

Answer 29

A. Problems with relationships
B. Changes to employment
C. Changes in roles and identity
D. Changes in hobbies/leisure activities 
E. Lack of confidence
F. Anxiety
G. Isolation
H. Depression