Wernicke aphasia
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Wernicke aphasia
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USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE
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USMLE® Step 2 style questions USMLE
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A 75-year-old right-handed woman is brought to the emergency department for evaluation of right-sided weakness. Past medical history is significant for hypertension and diabetes, for which the patient takes amlodipine, chlorthalidone, and insulin. Temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse is 95/min, respirations are 15/min, and blood pressure is 180/99 mmHg. On examination, right upper and lower extremity motor strength is 1/5. The patient has difficulty answering questions and appears to be frustrated by this inability to communicate. The patient is able to speak a few words, but the speech is non-fluent. She is able to comprehend 2-step instructions but is unable to repeat phrases. Which of the following best describes the type of aphasia observed in this patient?
Summary
Wernicke aphasia, also known as receptive, fluent, or sensory aphasia, is a type of language disorder caused by damage to the Wernicke's area of the brain, which affects language comprehension. Individuals with this type of aphasia have difficulty understanding language and producing meaningful speech, even though their hearing is intact. They may use made-up words and have difficulty with word retrieval and substitution. Treatment involves speech therapy to improve language comprehension and expression.