•a disruption of language performance that crosses all modalities resulting
from neurological insult. While some basic underlying cognitive processes
such as attention may be impaired in aphasia, higher order processes such
as intellect and personality are generally intact
Assumptions:
•intellect is spared
•motor system is spared
•all modalities are impaired, although not always to the same degree
•language competence is not "lost" but access or performance is disrupted
Classifications of aphasia:
Generalist:
•Minnesota Test for Differential Diagnosis of Aphasia
•simple aphasia
•aphasia with visual impairment
•aphasia with persistent dysfluency
•aphasia with scattered findings
•aphasia with sensorimotor involvement
•aphasia with intermittent auditory imperception
•irreversible aphasia syndrome
•McNeil et al.
•disruption of ability to effectively or efficiently allocate adequate
resources for language processes
Modular definitions
•Connectionist
•Brocas
•Wernickes
•Conduction
•Anomic
•Transcortical Sensory
•Transcortical Motor
•Global
•Transcortical mixed
•Expressive/receptive
•Fluent/nonfluent
How useful are classification systems?
•predicts group performance better than individual
•many patients are not classifiable
•patients evolve from one classification to another
•can use for clinical short-hand
What kind of behaviors do patients with aphasia demonstrate?