Aphasia

5

Ta n ner, D. C.

Case Studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders,

Second Edition (pp. 89-109).

(^) © 2017 SLACK Incorporated.
Language most shows a man; speak, that I may see thee.
— Ben Johnson
In this chapter you will learn about aphasia, a language disorder usually affecting all modali-
ties of communication. There is a discussion of predominantly expressive (nonf luent) and pre-
dominantly receptive (f luent) aphasia and the nature of the symptoms. Five psychological con-
comitants of aphasia are reviewed, and its etiology and rehabilitation are described. There are six
case studies addressing traumatically induced jargon aphasia, word- finding prob lems, telegraphic
speech, auditory- acoustic agnosia, aphasia resulting from a brain tumor, and global aphasia. A case
study focusing on a rehabilitation team is also presented.
Aphasia is the loss of previously acquired language abilities due to brain damage. It can elimi-
nate the person’s ability to speak, read, write, and understand the speech of others.
Dysphasia is a milder form of the disorder in which the patient retains some ability to use
language. Psychologically, aphasia is a double- edged sword. It is caused by serious medical condi-
tions that can create many adjustment challenges and isolate the patient from those who can and
want to help. Aphasia can have a devastating effect on the patient’s quality of life. According to
the National Aphasia Association (2015), there are at least 1 million persons in the United States
with aphasia.