Transcortical aphasia is a family of speech disorders caused by brain damage, affecting the ability to speak spontaneously. It is caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the temporal lobe and is differentiated from other speech disorders by the ability to fluently repeat words and sentences. Treatment varies based on the cause and severity of the aphasia, and speech therapists work with patients to regain speech structures. Psychological and emotional support is also important.
Transcortical aphasia describes a family of speech disorders produced by brain damage. This family of disorders is divided into transcortical motor aphasia, transcortical mixed aphasia, and transcortical sensory aphasia. This disorder is an expressive aphasia, as it affects the ability to speak spontaneously, although the individual can understand incoming written or verbal messages. The severity and duration of the condition varies among patients.
This disorder is caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the temporal lobe. The pathways between the ear canals and the areas of the brain that process language are not damaged in patients with this disorder. The damage that causes transcortical aphasia occurs in various parts of the subcortex.
The main feature that distinguishes transcortical aphasia from other forms of aphasia is the ability to fluently repeat words and sentences. Transcortical motor aphasia and transcortical mixed aphasia are considered nonfluent aphasias because reception is intact, but speech is impaired. The patient has difficulty finding the right words to say even when he knows what he wants to express. Patients with transcortical sensory aphasia often mistype words during fluent dialogue and have greater difficulty than other patients with transcortical aphasia recognizing words.
Patients with aphasia are often frustrated by their inability to communicate. This can lead to anxiety or depression, so patients should be supported psychologically and emotionally. Some researchers have experimented with antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs used in patients with Alzheimer’s disease to treat transcortical aphasia. These drugs do little to help the language deficiencies, but they do help with the behavioral and emotional problems associated with the disorder.
Treatment for transcortical aphasia varies based on the cause of the brain injury and the severity of the aphasia. In some cases, the condition may disappear as the brain recovers or the patient regains expression, but the disorder is often pervasive. If aphasia is caused by a tumor or lesion, surgical removal can clear the symptoms of the disorder.
Speech therapists work with aphasic patients to help them regain their speech structures. Some exercises can help recover from language losses, such as computer program activities and repetition exercises that reinforce spontaneous speech. Additionally, patients with transcortical aphasia might be encouraged to work with word games and crossword puzzles.
Aphasia is a rare condition. It is usually the result of tumors, strokes, or traumatic injuries. Aphasia is differentiated from other speech disorders caused by motor impairment, developmental deficiencies, or other mental disorders. To diagnose transcortical aphasia, doctors conduct simple bedside tests in the wake of a traumatic brain injury. Difficulty speaking spontaneously or naming simple objects indicates that the patient may have this condition. A patient showing signs of aphasia would undergo a series of assessment tests to determine the type and severity of the leak.
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