Which aphasia is typically defined by nonfluent speech with relatively preserved comprehension?

Which aphasia is typically defined by nonfluent speech with relatively preserved comprehension?

• A. Broca's aphasia
• B. Anomic aphasia
• C. Wernicke's aphasia
• D. Global aphasia

Answer: (A)

Nonfluent, effortful speech with relatively preserved comprehension is typical of Broca's aphasia. This pattern arises from damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus (Broca’s area) in the dominant hemisphere. Speech is broken and telegraphic, with agrammatism and halting production, while understanding spoken language remains comparatively intact. Repetition is usually impaired as well, reflecting the disruption of language production circuits. This contrasts with other aphasias: Wernicke’s aphasia shows fluent but nonsensical speech with poor comprehension; Anomic aphasia features fluent speech with prominent word-finding difficulties but good comprehension and relatively intact repetition; Global aphasia involves severe loss of both expressive and receptive language.

Nonfluent, effortful speech with relatively preserved comprehension is typical of Broca's aphasia. This pattern arises from damage to the left inferior frontal gyrus (Broca’s area) in the dominant hemisphere. Speech is broken and telegraphic, with agrammatism and halting production, while understanding spoken language remains comparatively intact. Repetition is usually impaired as well, reflecting the disruption of language production circuits. This contrasts with other aphasias: Wernicke’s aphasia shows fluent but nonsensical speech with poor comprehension; Anomic aphasia features fluent speech with prominent word-finding difficulties but good comprehension and relatively intact repetition; Global aphasia involves severe loss of both expressive and receptive language.