Communication Impairments

Question 1

Brocas Aphasia

Answer 1

• Expressive or non-fluent aphasia
• The pt knows what he wants to say, but has difficulty saying it
• Pt is unable to talk, even though the vocal mm’s are not paralyzed
• Decrease in verbal communication, vocabulary, slow, hesitant, awkward
• Pt may perseverate verbally, repeating the same word or sound
• Pt becomes frustrated

Question 2

Wernike’s Aphasia

Answer 2

• Receptive or fluent aphasia
• The pt hears speech, but the sounds are meaningless
• Involves impaired auditory comprehension
• Impairs the feedback function of hearing one’s own speech
  ie: pt may reverse syllables or sounds (hopsital, tevillision)

Question 3

Global Aphasia

Answer 3

• Includes both expressive and receptive aphasia
  (severe limitation of all verbal communication)
• Pts frequently have difficulty interpreting gestures as well
• Poor prognosis for language function improvement

Question 4

Aphasia Treatment

Answer 4

• Communication Boards
• IF pt perseverates, have them slow down
• Use tactile cues, gestures, simple one step
• Requires great patients

Question 5

Dysarthria

Answer 5

• Involves problems with articulation due to a disorder of the motor component of speech (slow/slurred)
• Word use, selection, and grammer remain intact

Question 6

Treatment for Dysarthria

Answer 6

• Have pt speak slowly

- Breathing ex’s to help control breath and voice volume

Question 7

Emotional Lability

Answer 7

• Difficulty in controlling emotions
• Displays of inappropriate emotions
• Emotional behavior: laughing, crying (Spontaneous)