Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
14:43
Universal Screening for Prevention of Reading, Writing, and Math Disabilities in Spanish
Published on: July 18, 2020
Alexia and agraphia in Spanish
Rafael Gonzalez1, Macarena Rojas1, Alfredo Ardila2,3
1Departamento de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders
|August 1, 2020
Summary
This study on Spanish-speaking patients found that reading and writing impairments in aphasia mirror oral language difficulties, with severity being the key factor. Education positively impacts reading and writing skills.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Linguistics
- Psychology
Background:
- Cross-linguistic studies of alexia and agraphia are crucial for understanding brain organization of written language.
- Limited research exists on alexia and agraphia within the Spanish language.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical manifestations of alexia and agraphia in Spanish-speaking patients.
- To investigate the influence of demographic variables on these conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Spanish versions of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE).
- Assessed 200 patients (195 right-handed) with various aphasia types using neuroimaging for lesion localization.
- Calculated aphasia quotient (AQ), reading-writing quotient (RWQ), language quotient (LQ), and cortical quotient (CQ).
Main Results:
- Reading and writing impairments in Spanish-speaking aphasia patients generally parallel oral language difficulties in severity.
- Global, mixed non-fluent, and transcortical motor aphasias showed the most severe reading and writing deficits.
- Higher education levels correlated positively with reading and writing test scores; age showed a negative correlation.
Conclusions:
- Reading and writing disturbances in Spanish-speaking aphasia patients are closely linked to the severity of oral language impairments.
- This study provides valuable insights for the clinical management of patients with reading and writing deficits.
- Findings emphasize the importance of considering educational background in assessing and treating alexia and agraphia.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Translation
Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
01:31Translation
Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
01:10Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
01:12Visual Agnosia
Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round end"...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:25Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...