The Writer Who Could Not Speak

 

33 yo RHWF writer was brought into the ER after falling off a horse. The pt's only complaint was a headache and neck pain. Her neurologic exam wasnonfocal and the patient was discharged from the ER. The next morning the she woke up and noted that her right arm and leg felt heavy. As she tried to get out of bed she fell to the floor. She called for her husband saying, "I can't shove my feet." She continued talking with great animation, but he could not understand her. The patient was brought back to the ER. Upon examination she had a right hemiparesis, poor naming and repetition. She could not read or follow simple auditory commands and in addition, her writing was incomprehensible.

Questions:

  1. Define aphasia?

  2. What kind of aphasia does this patient have?

  3. How do you distinguish this patient's aphasia from other types of aphasia?

  4. Where is the lesion?
Last updated by Webmaster on August 18, 2009

© 2012 Stony Brook Medicine
http://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu
101 Nicolls Road Stony Brook, NY 11794
631-444-4000

For technical questions, contact the Webmaster.