Ch. 8 - Adult Language Disorders and Cognitive-Based Dysfunction

Types of strokes

Ischemic and hemorrhagic

Ischemic stroke

When a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain becomes clogged and impairs bloodflow

• Bloackage

Hemorrhagic stroke

When a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain ruptures and bleeds

• Bleeding

Aphasia

A language disorders that’s acquired sometimes after an individual has developed language comprehension

• Results from injury to the language functions of the brain

• A disturbance in the language system after language has been established or learned

Right-Hemisphere Dysfunction (RHD)

Results from neurological damage to the right cerebral hemisphere

• May include a language disturbance, but cognitive, perceptual, and behavioral disruptions are the more consistent findings

• Commonly referred to as a cognitive-linguistic disorder

RHD characteristics

• Lack of awareness of cognitive-linguistic deficits and possible denial of problem areas

• Difficulty understanding and/or using higher-level cognitive-linguistic skills

• Comprised pragmatics

• Dysarthia or dysphagia

RHD identification

Done through a comprehensive speech-language assessment

• Should test all aspects of communication as well as higher level language skills

• Should test visual-perceptual performance and pragmatic appropriateness

RHD treatment

Initial therapy targets the management of attention and visual disruptions since these impact productive treatment activities

• Targets higher level cognitive-linguistic tasks

• Pragmatics are addressed

• Individual and group settings are important

Dementia

A decline in mental ability severe enough to impact daily living

• Memory impairment (short term and long term)

• Impairment of cognitive skills

• Presence of aphasia, apraxia, or agnosia

• Most have gradual onset with progressive functional decline

• Does not result from a psychological disturbance