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Right cerebral hemisphere damage: incidence of language problems
Summary
Language and communication issues are common after right cerebral hemisphere damage (RHD), affecting 50% of patients. These non-dysphasic problems persist for at least three months, indicating a need for speech and language therapy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Linguistics
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Right cerebral hemisphere damage (RHD) is not typically associated with dysphasia.
- Emerging evidence suggests RHD can cause other language and communication deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the incidence of non-dysphasic language and communication problems following RHD.
- To investigate the persistence of these issues over a three-month period.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving eleven subjects with unilateral RHD.
- Language assessments conducted within two weeks of onset and again at three months.
Main Results:
- Language impairment was observed in 50% of the RHD sample.
- Marked communication difficulties were present in 20% of subjects.
- These language and communication problems did not spontaneously resolve within three months.
Conclusions:
- Non-dysphasic language and communication problems are a significant consequence of RHD.
- The persistence of these deficits highlights the need for targeted speech and language therapy interventions for individuals with RHD.