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Published on: September 25, 2019
Aphemia as a presenting symptom in acute stroke
Pawan K Ojha1, Shobha Nandavar, Dawn M Pearson
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. ptojha@yahoo.co.in
Neurology India
|July 12, 2011
Summary
Aphemia, a speech disorder from stroke, causes articulatory failure but preserves writing and comprehension. This study highlights left motor cortex lesions as a common cause, crucial for rehabilitation planning.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Aphemia is a rare speech disorder characterized by complete articulatory failure.
- It is a form of apraxia of speech, distinct from aphasia.
- Aphemia can be an early sign of acute stroke.
Observation:
- This study describes three patients who developed aphemia following an acute ischemic stroke.
- All patients presented with apraxia of speech.
- The underlying cause was an acute infarct in the left motor cortex near the face M1 area.
Findings:
- The study confirms that lesions in the left motor cortex, specifically near the face M1 area, are a significant cause of aphemia.
- Aphemia presents as a complete inability to articulate speech despite intact oropharyngeal function, writing, and comprehension.
- The findings underscore the link between specific brain lesions and distinct speech deficits.
Implications:
- Understanding the precise neurological basis of aphemia is critical for developing targeted and effective speech rehabilitation strategies.
- Early identification of aphemia as a stroke manifestation can lead to prompt medical intervention.
- This research contributes to the understanding of the neural correlates of speech production and its disruption.
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