Broca's aphasia

Broca aphasia from a lesion in areas 44 and 45 on the left hemisphere leads to nonfluent speech, agrammatism, paraphasias, anomia, and poor repetition. Lesions anterior, superior, and deep to (but sparing) the Broca area produce abnormal syntax and grammar but repetition and automatic language are preserved. This disorder is known as transcortical motor aphasia and uninhibited echolalia is common. Memory disturbances only develop with lesion extension into the septal nucleus of the basal forebrain. Appreciation of verbal humor is most impaired in right frontal polar pathology.

Expressive aphasia is also known as Broca's aphasia in clinical neuropsychology and agrammatic aphasia in cognitive neuropsychology and is caused by acquired damage to the anterior regions of the brain, including (but not limited to) the left posterior inferior frontal gyrus or inferior frontal operculum, also described as Broca's area (Brodmann area 44 and Brodmann area 45).

Expressive aphasia is also a symptom of some migraine attacks.

Expressive aphasia is also a classification of non-fluent aphasia, as opposed to fluent aphasia. Diagnosis is done on a case by case basis, as lesions often affect surrounding cortex and deficits are not well conserved between patients.

In order to diagnose a patient who is suffering from Broca’s aphasia, there are certain commonly used tests and procedures. The Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE), the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and the Porch Index of Speech Ability (PISA) are all evaluations created for the purpose of identifying aphasia and the class of the condition the patient is experiencing. More routine processes for diagnosis include MRI scans and questions. The ability to name common objects, maintain casual conversation, proper word use, answering questions concerning a subject the patient read or heard, word and sentence repetition skills and general reading and writing proficiency are all determiners of possible expressive aphasia. Testing swallowing can also aid in diagnosing this impairment, as can the ability to use alternative and augmentative (AAC) speech, which is a form of communication specifically used by those suffering from physical or mental disabilities that impair the production of spoken or written language.