Wernickes Aphasia - Essay Example

Running Head: Wernicke’s Aphasia A Research Paper on Wernicke’s Aphasia In APA Style Introduction The skill of speech andlanguage abilities can be considered as included in the main processes undertaken by the brain. The study undertaken which is aimed to present a particular disorder that can affect the said skill is focused on the Wernicke’s Aphasia. The said disorder is classified under the diseases referred to as Aphasia. Aphasia can be specifically defined to refer in the language disorder that can affect the left side of the brain which is in charge of the language related processes. The said ailment can be attributed as a result of any type damage to the specific area due to injury, stroke or the growth of a brain tumor. Included in the effects of aphasia is the problem in the articulation and comprehension of a particular language which can be perceived in both the written and spoken activities (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders [NIDCD], 1997). There are different types of aphasia on the basis of the specific area affected and damaged in the left hemisphere of the brain. The focus of the study, Wernicke’s Aphasia is a type of aphasia affecting the distinct part of the brain referred to as the Wernicke’s area. The Etiology of the Disorder The Wernicke’s Aphasia is a specific type of language impairment on the basis of the damage in the specific area of the brain for language development and control. The said are is located in the left hemisphere of the brain for speech related skills and activities specifically for comprehension (NIDCD, 1997). The said area of the brain damaged is named after one of the earliest contributors in the field of psychiatry as well as neuropathology Dr. Carl Wernicke, a Polish expert in the anatomy of the brain. He is responsible for creating the clinical picture related to the pathoanatomic analysis of the brain which can be considered as essential in the correlation between the physiology of the brain and the functions performed in the different parts of the body. The parts of the brain affected by the disease are presented in figure 1 (NIDCD, 1997; University of Illinois Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation, 2003). (1) (2) Sources: (NIDCD, 1997; University of Illinois Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation, 2003). Figure 1. Brain Diagrams (1) Wernicke’s presentation (2) Left side perspective of the brain. The discovery then of the Wernicke’s disorder can be attributed to the establishment of the field in science that correlates psychology with neurology. For that matter, modeling allowed the critical analysis helpful in both fields. In the said study, Wernicke being one of the strong and essential proponents and active participant in research had been honored by giving his name to the concepts he established. Hallmark Characteristic of the Disorder Included in the important characteristic of Wernicke’s aphasia is the fact that it is classified as a receptive aphasia on the basis of the symptoms that can be observed. The observable indicators are write words but there is lack of thought in the statements presented to the point of total absence of meaning (Medline Plus Website, June 2008). Based on one of the research undertaken related to Wernicke’s aphasia, the speech understanding of patients had been described by those who had been cure. According to them, there is a point wherein they cannot understand any words or statements spoken to them. An interesting information is the lack of control of the words they can utter. There are extreme cases wherein the words they said was not consciously uttered and they cannot themselves understand the meaning (Otsuki, Soma, Yoshimura, Miyashita, Nagatsuka and Naritomi, 2005). Such dissociation is an important distinctive characteristic of the said disorder. Symptoms of the Disorder The diagnosis and treatment of the Wernicke’s aphasia can be considered based on the symptoms and indicators that can be observed to determine the said disorder. One of the primary symptoms is the expression of thoughts in language. If a person is uttering long statements without meaning or cohesion, they may be needed to seek additional medical attention. New words are even created while expressing thoughts and due to the fact that their skill of perception and understanding of language is impaired, the uttered sentences are not understood as well. Thus, they cannot tell if they had uttered the right idea. The said condition then can be analyzed as a misunderstanding in the conceptualization, expression and reception related to language skills (NIDCD, 1997; Otsuki, Soma, Yoshimura, Miyashita, Nagatsuka and Naritomi, 2005). In terms of spoken messages such as those that apply in speaking another language, significant need for extended time can be observed. This can be attributed to a hindered understanding of words and their association. As a result even the normal activities wherein language is needed to be understood trough spoken works is a challenge such as watching television with a relatively swift speech. Literal understanding of figurative forms in language can be another indication of the said disease (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2008). Affected Population and Occurrence of the Disorder The effect and risk of the population in relation to aphasia can be determined on the basis of different demographic factors. In terms of gender, the risk for aphasia can be considered as equal to both genders. In terms of age, there are more records of people in middle to later years affected by the ailment. Based on results of surveys, 80,000 people acquire the aphasia per annum. A total of approximately 1 million Americans have the said disorder (NIDCD, 1997). The diagnosis of aphasia can be considered as one of the essential issues in relation to the determination of the occurrence of the said disease. Basically, one of the prior steps is the determination of brain injury. For that matter, the neurologists are often the first people to correlate and discover the said ailment. When certain indications are observed, tests are undertaken in terms of following commands, answering questions and conversing. The in depth study of the case of the patient is then undertaken by speech-language pathologists targeting the determination of the patterns of speaking, writing and related skills (NIDCD, 1997). Included in the areas of focus in diagnosis are speech, understanding, expressing, social communication, reading, writing and related activities and skills. In terms of speech, the fluency, vocal quality, clarity and the use of the different muscles for speech are observed. In understanding, the levels of vocabulary and grammar are determined. In addition, the critical thinking is also analyzed. Expression can be considered related to understanding in terms of conveying the message that is understood or analyzed. The construction of statements is the main concern along with capability to determine underlying messages (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2008). Treatment and Interventions The treatment and interventions to be applied to cure the patient is another essential issue in relation to the disease. There are different factors such as the type and degree of effects associated with aphasia to be able to determine the proper cure. For cases wherein there is a momentary stroke or disruption in the blood flow in the brain, spontaneous recovery is expected. For that matter no treatment is required in such cases (NIDCD, 1997). For more serious cases, therapy is required for a significant amount of time. Recovery can be after a year or more which can be affected by the extent of injury, the motivation and the innate capabilities of the person. There are two types of treatments on the basis of set-up namely the individual and the group therapy. The individual therapy can help the patient overcome specific needs while the group therapy can improve communication skills which can be considered a common challenge in patients with the said disorder. The help and understanding of the immediate family is also fundamental in the process of treatment (NIDCD, 1997). In a study undertaken that focused on the effect of disguised tasked in the improvement of the patient, results showed a positive feedback in repetitive tasks. For that matter, it is important to undertake certain activities wherein patients are not fully aware of the task at hand as well as the objectives and results expected (Otsuki, Soma, Yoshimura, Miyashita, Nagatsuka and Naritomi, 2005). These are some of the important ways of treating the said disorder which includes a specific intervention undertaken for patients with Wernicke’s aphasia. Conclusion Based on the presented data and information related to Wernicke’s aphasia, it can be considered as a serious neurological ailment with the risk of affecting both genders specifically those who encountered brain injury. For that matter, it is important to have a thorough analysis in such cases to prevent acquiring the disorder. The brain is one if not the most essential organ in the body that is in control of all the functions. A view on the language disorder, Wernicke’s aphasia is compared to a view and confirmation of the role of the brain in the total body functions specifically in relation to speech. References American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (2008). Aphasia. Retrieved November 3, 2008, from http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Aphasia.htm Hebert, S., Racette, A., Gagnon, L. and Peretz, I. (2003). Revisiting the dissociation between singing and speaking in expressive aphasia. Brain (2003) 126: 1838-1850. Kohn, S. E. (1992). Conduction Aphasia. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Medline Plus Website (June 2008). Aphasia. Retrieved November 3, 2008, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aphasia.html National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (October 1997). Aphasia. Retrieved November 3, 2008, from http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/aphasia.htm Otsuki, N., Soma, Y., Yoshimura, N., Miyashita, K., Nagatsuka, K. and Naritomi, H. (2005). How to improve repetition ability in patients with Wernicke’s aphasia: the effect of a disguised task. J. Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 76: 733-735. University of Illinois Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation (December 2003). Founders of Neurology: Dr. Carl Wernicke. Retrieved November 3, 2008 http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcne/founders/page0101.html Read More