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Neurogenic Disorders
Aphasia
What is aphasia?
Aphasia is an
acquired language disorder caused by a stroke or a head injury, whereby
the established language function is disrupted due to the damage to the
affected area in the brain.
What are the different communication problems that are
caused by aphasia?
There are
different types of aphasia: |
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Receptive aphasia is difficulty understanding spoken
language and read material (alexia). In some cases people with
receptive aphasia can have deficits in word or sentence comprehension. They
may understand short and simple sentences but have more difficulty
understanding longer and more complex sentences. This difficulty may
also be present when reading, they may not recognize printed words,
their reading may be slow and not fluent, they may read sentences one
word at a time, they may also omit or
substitute words.
Expressive aphasia is difficulty in spoken
and written language (agraphia). Individuals
with expressive aphasia may experience difficulty in finding words to
express themselves; their speech may not be fluent as a result of their
word finding deficits. In some cases, they may be able to make short
sentences, but when trying to make longer sentences, they may leave out
words, or they may not be able to complete sentences. In some cases
there may be deficits in writing; these difficulties may be due to the
paresis or paralysis of the preferred hand. There can be poor letter
formation, confused or substituted letters, as well as nonsensical
syllables. Among other symptoms, sentence structures can be inadequate
and their syntax (e.g., word order) can be confused. Expressive aphasia
can also be accompanied by apraxia and dysarthia, which are other speech problems caused by
an injury to the brain.
Individuals suffering from a stroke or a brain
injury can also have motor problems; they can have weakness or
paralysis, or experience numbness on one side of the body depending,
which area of the brain is affected. They can have personality changes,
their vision may be impaired; they may experience memory and
problem-solving difficulties, as well as problems with swallowing.
Global aphasia is when an individual has difficulty with
both receptive and expressive language. It is common for persons with
aphasia to have both their expressive and receptive language
compromised.
Can a person with aphasia be treated?
A speech language
pathologist is a professional trained to evaluate and treat persons
with aphasia. To take full advantage of the spontaneous recovery that
may occur in the first few days and up to six months after the onset of
the stroke or injury, it is imperative to begin speech and language
services as soon as the patient is medically stable. Additionally, the
speech language pathologist works with the patient and his/her family,
they support and counsel them, and in the event that the patient does
not regain all his former skills, they teach the families strategies to
help them cope and communicate with the patient.
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Traumatic
Brain Injury
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
There are two types
of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a "closed head injury" (CHI)
and an "open head injury" (OHI). Traumatic Brain Injury is
caused by a severe trauma to the head; for example
it can be from a motor vehicle accident, a blow to the head, or a fall.
A "closed
head injury" is the trauma to the brain resulting from a rapid
acceleration and deceleration "whip lash" of the head causing
the brain to violently shift in the skull, thus damaging the nerve
fibers that send out messages to the rest of the body.
An "open
head injury" (OHI) is an externally visible head injury that is
localized; the damage is limited to the area of the brain that
sustained the injury.
Brain injury can
also result from a cardiac arrest (heart attack), a stroke, drowning or
any accident that deprives the brain of its oxygen supply for a period
of time (anoxia). In the event that oxygen is cut, all the brain cells
may be affected which can result in changes of behavior in the
individual. |
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What are the symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The extent of the
damage caused by TBA depends on several factors; it can depend on the
size of area of the brain that is affected as well as upon the location
of the injury. Cognitive, Psycho-Social, and Physical impairments are
common in a TBI.
The symptoms of
Cognitive Impairments are: short term and/or long term memory, lack of
concentration, markedly slowed thinking processes, speech and language
problems, shortened attention, difficulties with perception, and
problems with writing and reading, impaired judgment, and/or problems
with planning and sequencing.
The symptoms of
Psycho-Social impairments and Behavioral and Emotional Impairments,
include fatigue, denial, self-centeredness, mood swings, depression, low
self-esteem, inability to cope, lack of motivation, restlessness,
difficulty relating to others etc.
Physical
Impairments can affect speech and language, physical mobility, vision,
hearing as well as other sensory impairments. The patient may also experience headaches, lack of coordination,
spasticity of the muscles, paralysis of the limbs and seizures.
What can be done?
It is imperative
that rehabilitation begins as soon as the patient is stabilized
medically. Early intervention by
professionals in rehabilitation such as physiotherapists, occupational
therapists, speech language pathologists increases the chances of
recovery; depending on the severity of the injury, these professionals
will help each patient reach his/her maximum potential.
Head Injury in Children
A severe TBI as a
result of a serious accident will result in the same impairments in
children as in adults. However, children may have a mild brain injury
caused by a fall or after accidentally knocking his/her head. If your
child experiences symptoms that will not go away, then you must
urgently seek medical advice. |
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Below is a list
of symptoms that need immediate medical attention:
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Severe headaches that do not subside, even
after taking an analgesic
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Seizures (eyes fluttering, body stiffening,
staring into space)
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Child forgets everything, amnesia
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Weakened or shaking muscles
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Nausea or vomiting
If you need to
see your pediatrician, ask him to refer you to a pediatric neurologist
for a specialist consultation.
Motor
Speech Disorders
Apraxia
A motor speech
disorder or apraxia, is when a person's
speech is affected by the brain's inability to move the parts of the
body involved in producing speech such as the lips, the jaw and the
tongue. A person with apraxia has a problem
initiating speech, producing sounds and producing syllables or words in
a consistent manner.
Dysarthia
Dysarthia is another motor speech
disorder caused by a weakness or paralysis in the muscles of the body
parts which produce speech due to a stroke, Parkinson's disease,
multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy. A person with dysarthia may have several problems; he/she may
have difficulty producing speech sounds, speaking fluently, and /or may
have a voice problem. |
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(For more information you can visit American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)).
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Speech and Language Diagnostic and Treatment
Services at JISH |
