Expressive aphasia

Expressive aphasia, also known as Broca's aphasia, is a type of aphasia characterized by partial loss of the ability to produce language (spoken, manual, or written), although comprehension generally remains intact. It is caused by damage to the posterior part of the frontal lobe of the brain, which includes Broca's area.

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Definition and Overview

Expressive aphasia is a non-fluent aphasia that results from damage to the frontal lobes of the brain, especially the left frontal lobe. Despite having clear thoughts and ideas, individuals with expressive aphasia struggle to articulate their thoughts effectively in spoken or written form. They typically understand spoken language well, and can read adequately, but find it difficult to speak and write because they can't form sentences correctly.

Causes and Risk Factors

Expressive aphasia is most commonly caused by stroke, but can also result from head injury, brain tumor or other neurological disorders that affect language-processing areas of the brain, especially Broca's area. Risk factors for these conditions, such as high blood pressure, smoking, and old age, can therefore also increase the risk of expressive aphasia.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of expressive aphasia is difficulty forming complete sentences. Speech is typically slow and laborious, and individuals may struggle with word-finding issues. Writing ability is similarly affected. However, people with expressive aphasia are usually able to understand speech and read text well, and they are typically aware of their difficulties, which can lead to frustration.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of expressive aphasia is typically made through a detailed clinical evaluation that includes medical history, neurological examination, and language tests. Imaging studies like MRI or CT scan may be used to identify the location and extent of brain damage.

Treatment

Treatment for expressive aphasia usually involves speech and language therapy, where a therapist works with the individual to improve their language skills and use alternative methods of communication. The exact approach depends on the severity of the aphasia and the individual's personal goals. Some individuals may also benefit from medications or surgical interventions to treat the underlying cause of the aphasia.

Prognosis

The prognosis of expressive aphasia varies widely and depends on factors such as the cause of the brain damage, the area of the brain that's affected, the individual's age, and the individual's health status. Some individuals may regain full language function within a few hours or days after a stroke, while others may continue to experience language difficulties for months or years.

See Also

• Aphasia
• Broca's area
• Stroke
• Speech-language pathology

References

• Hillis, A. E. (2014). "Inability to empathize: Brain lesions that disrupt sharing and understanding another’s emotions". Brain, 137(4), 981-997.
• Dronkers, N. F., Plaisant, O., Iba-Zizen, M. T., & Cabanis, E. A. (2007). "Paul Broca's historic cases: high resolution MR imaging of the brains of Leborgne and Lelong". Brain, 130(5), 1432-1441.
• Fridriksson, J., Guo, D., Fillmore, P., Holland, A., & Rorden, C. (2015). "Damage to the anterior arcuate fasciculus predicts non-fluent speech production in aphasia". Brain, 138(11), 3461-3472.
• Mohr, J. P., Pessin, M. S., Finkelstein, S., Funkenstein, H. H., Duncan, G. W., & Davis, K. R. (1978). "Broca aphasia: pathologic and clinical". Neurology, 28(4), 311-311.
• National Aphasia Association. (2022). "Expressive Aphasia". Retrieved from National Aphasia Association website.

External Links

• National Aphasia Association
• American Stroke Association - Aphasia Information

Expressive aphasia Resources
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