Loss of the ability to comprehend language coupled with production of inappropriate language. Also known as receptive aphasia.
Wernicke aphasia is characterized by the inability to comprehend speech or to produce meaningful speech following lesions to the posterior cortex. Individuals with Wernicke aphasia rarely experience muscular weakness affecting one side of the body, or hemiparesis. In most cases, its etiology involves a lesion affecting the dominant temporal lobe, particularly the auditory association cortex of the posterior-superior portion of the first temporal gyrus.
Deficit in ability to comprehend sounds or written words due to damage to the temporal lobe by trauma or stroke.
An injury to the Wernicke’s area in the temporal lobe of the dominant hemisphere of the brain, resulting in an inability to comprehend the spoken or written word. Visual and auditory pathways are unaffected; however, patients are unable to differentiate between words or interpret their meaning. Although patients speak fluently, they are unable to function socially because their ability to communicate effectively is impaired by a disordered speech pattern called paraphasia (i.e., inserting inappropriate syllables into words or substituting one word for another). They also may be unable to repeat spoken words. If the condition is due to a stroke, the aphasia may improve with time. The disorder is often caused by impairment of blood flow through the lower division of the left middle cerebral artery.
A condition marked by the partial or complete inability to comprehend spoken or written language. Although the individual retains the capacity to speak, their speech may include unnecessary or invented words.
A condition where there is a loss or difficulty in using words correctly. Often, words may be spoken fluently but used inappropriately, resembling a form of jargon. This is also known as cortical sensory aphasia.