Aphasia

• What is vocalisation?

  The sound made by vibrating vocal folds
• How is vocalisation modified?

  By the resonance of the vocal tract
• What is articulation?

  Using speech sounds for meaningful speech
• What structures are involved in articulation?

  Lips, soft palate, tongue, teeth, alveolar ridge, hard palate
• What are the stages of speech production?

  1. Respiration
  2. Phonation
  3. Resonance and articulation
• What is required for speech to occur?

  Exhalation of air
• How does breathing change during speech?

  Increases exhalation time
• Does the volume of air inhaled change during speech?

  No, it does not change
• What causes phonation?

  Actions of the laryngeal muscles
• What is required for phonation to occur?

  Adduction of the vocal folds
• What must the vocal folds be under for phonation?

  Under tension
• What allows sound production during phonation?

  Vibrations along the vocal folds
• What are the adductors of the vocal folds?

  • Lateral cricoarytenoids
  • Transverse arytenoid
  • Oblique arytenoids
• How can pitch be adjusted?

  By varying length, tension, and thickness of vocal folds
• What happens if the vibration frequency increases?

  It raises the pitch of the sound
• Which muscles allow changes in pitch?

  Cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, vocalis
• What does the cricothyroid muscle do?

  Lengthens and tenses the vocal folds
• What do the thyroarytenoid and vocalis muscles do?

  Shorten, thicken, and reduce tension in folds
• What is resonance in speech production?

  • Transfer of sound/airflow from vocal cords
  • Involves:
  • Pharyngeal cavity
  • Oral cavity
  • Nasal cavity
  • Sound bounces off walls and is amplified
• What does articulation involve?

  Modification of airflow to produce speech
• What are active articulators?

  • Structures that move for speech
  • Include:
  • Lips
  • Soft palate
  • Tongue
• What are passive articulators?

  • Structures that do not move
  • Provide fixed points for movement
  • Include:
  • Teeth
  • Alveolar ridge
  • Hard palate
• How does the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists define aphasia?

  A language disorder from brain damage
• What cognitive abilities remain intact in individuals with aphasia?

  Other cognitive abilities and intellect
• What are the broader impacts of aphasia on an individual's life?

  Frustration, social isolation, and relationship breakdown
• What is the incidence of stroke in the UK each year?

  150,000 people
• What percentage of stroke survivors are left with a communication disability?

  One third
• What is the prevalence of aphasia in the population?

  66 per 100,000 population
• How many people in the UK have aphasia at any one time?

  250,000 people
• What are the types of aphasia according to the classical approach?

  1. Broca’s aphasia
  2. Wernicke’s aphasia
  3. Conduction aphasia
  4. Global aphasia
  5. Transcortical motor aphasia
  6. Transcortical sensory aphasia
  7. Mixed transcortical aphasia
  8. Anomic aphasia
• What characterizes Broca's aphasia?

  Non-fluent agrammatic speech
• What is a common feature of Wernicke's aphasia?

  Fluent paragrammatic speech
• What is a defining characteristic of anomic aphasia?

  Poor word retrieval
• What is the impact of aphasia on communication modalities?

  Not all patients fit classic syndromes
• What is the SLT approach to aphasia?

  • Assessment of speech and language
  • Advice to communication partners
  • Teaching total communication
  • Direct therapy for word retrieval
• What are some challenges faced by individuals with aphasia?

  Loss of communicative competence and roles
• What are some strategies to promote communication for individuals with aphasia?

  Reduce distractions and use clear language
• What should a speech and language therapist do when a patient struggles to communicate?

  Be honest and try again
• What are the emotional impacts of aphasia on individuals?

  • Isolation
  • Loss of self-confidence
  • Depression
  • Reduced quality of life
• What is the significance of communication in everyday tasks?

  Essential for participation and relationships