Sex and aphasic syndromes

Sex differences in the incidence of aphasia and its types has been the subject of interest in recent literature. We studied the records of 275 patients with C.V.A. and 62 with C.C.I., serially admitted to the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital between 1965 and 1980. Aphasia Test results were recorded within one month of onset and again 3-5 months later. No significant sex differences were found in the incidence of aphasia or in aphasia syndromes in C.V.A. patients, but males far outnumbered female patients with C.C.I. The average ages of males and females in our aphasia population and among the syndrome types were not significantly different. We found that severity of disabilities, as measured by auditory comprehension, failed to show significant sex differences, although males tended to have more severe types of aphasia with poorer prognosis for recovery. Patterns of improvement to less severe types of aphasia were not statistically significant in males and females.