Broca’s

Medically reviewed

by on August 29,

2017 — Written by

Aphasia Corey Whelan

Overview
Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand speech or
communicate using language. It can occur when areas of
the brain responsible for language become damaged.
There are several different types of aphasia. Each type is
categorized as either fluent or non-fluent. Broca’s aphasia
is a non-fluent type.

Broca’s aphasia results from damage to a part of the brain

called Broca’s area, which is located in the frontal lobe,
usually on the left side. It’s one of the parts of the brain Symptoms
responsible for speech and for motor movement. It’s
Causes
named for Pierre Paul Broca, a French physician who
discovered the area in 1861. Broca’s aphasia is also Diagnosis

referred to as expressive aphasia. Treatment

Other types

Prevention

Prognosis
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Outlook
Symptoms
If you have Broca’s aphasia, you may be able to comprehend what is being said, but
be unable to speak fluently because your brain is having trouble communicating
efficiently to all of the muscles needed to form words. This may create great
frustration, since you know what you want to say, but can’t get the words out the
way you wish to.

Symptoms of Broca’s aphasia include:

 poor or absent grammar

 difficulty forming complete sentences
 omitting certain words, such as “the,” “an,” “and,” and “is” (a person with
Broca’s aphasia may say something like “Cup, me” instead of “I want the cup”)
 more difficulty using verbs than nouns correctly
 difficulty articulating sounds and words
 difficulty repeating what has been said by others
 trouble with writing sentences
 difficulty reading
 problems with full comprehension
 difficulty following directions
 frustration

Causes

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Anything that causes the death of brain cells may result in aphasia. Brain cells die
when blood flow or oxygen flow to a particular part of the brain is stopped or
diminished.

Causes include:

More common
 Stroke or brain anoxia.
 Brain tumor
 Brain trauma
Less common
 Autoimmune disease
 Paraneoplastic syndrome
 Micrometastasis
 neurodegenerative disorders
 Certain infections (e.g., Bartonella henselae)
 Metabolic disease (e.g., hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state)

Diagnosis
If a stroke or other form of brain injury occurs, a doctor will test for the symptoms of
aphasia. If you or someone with a progressive neurological condition begins to show
trouble with speaking or language comprehension, a medical evaluation should be
sought immediately.

The doctor will talk to you to determine your ability to comprehend and
communicate. If problems with speech or comprehension are apparent or
suspected, additional testing will be done.
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Diagnosis of Broca’s aphasia requires an MRI or CT scan. These tests help
determine the exact area of the brain that’s affected, as well as the extent of the
damage. In addition to formal assessments, patient and family interviews are valid
and important sources of information. The patient’s previous hobbies, interests,
personality, and occupation are all factors that will not only impact therapy but may
motivate them throughout the recovery process

Treatment
Broca’s aphasia may improve even without treatment. Working with a speech-
language pathologist, both in person or online, can greatly enhance progress. The
more practice someone has speaking in a safe environment, the more likely they
may be to continue trying to improve. Finding a support group, book club, or another
type of social setting with other people going through the same thing can be very
beneficial.

If you care about someone who has this condition, remember that they’re just as
intelligent as before. Be understanding, as they may feel frustration about their
current situation. Try to have patience and to include them in the life of your family
or circle of friends. Keep them in the loop by including them actively in
conversations and by looking directly at them, rather than talking around them.
Other tips for communication include:

 Keep your sentences simple and short, but don’t speak to them as if they’re a
child.
 Remember that their interests have not changed, only their ability to talk about
them.
 Ask lots of yes and no questions, or questions that require very simple
answers.
 Use gestures or props to get your point across.
 Fold in simple interactions, such as sitting quietly in nature, where you can
enjoy each other’s presence without speaking too much.
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If you have Broca’s aphasia, you can help to accelerate your own progress by
having verbal interactions with people you trust. There are other techniques you can
use:

 Try to control the noise level of the room you are in to eliminate any
unnecessary distractions.
 It may seem silly at first, but use a mirror, and try practicing a few phrases,
such as, “How are you?” and “What are you doing for the holidays?” before
you attend events. This may help to build up your confidence level.
 Keep trying! Remember that improvement can continue for many years.
 Go at your own pace; just make sure to keep going.

A patient may have the option of individual or group treatment. Some types of
group treatments include family counseling, maintenance groups, support groups
and treatment groups.

Other types of aphasia

Other types of aphasia include Wernicke’s aphasia, global aphasia, conduction
aphasia, and anomic aphasia. All types of aphasia affect communication and
speech.

Wernicke’s aphasia

Wernicke’s aphasia affects the area of the brain known as Wernicke’s area, which is
located on the left middle side. People with this condition have difficulty with
language comprehension and may have a harder time processing spoken words
than those with Broca’s aphasia do.

People with Wernicke’s aphasia also display a different type of speech pattern.
Wernicke’s is a type of fluent aphasia. Symptoms include:
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  articulating sentences that have the appropriate cadence but lack the right
words
 jumbling words together in a seemingly arbitrary sequence
 inserting made-up, nonsense-like words into sentences
 being unaware that you may be articulating something incomprehensible to
others

Global aphasia

Global aphasia results from extensive damage to large areas of the brain
responsible for language. This type of aphasia can result in extreme difficulty with
communication. Global aphasia impacts both the ability to speak and the ability to
comprehend speech.

Conduction aphasia

Conduction aphasia results in difficulty with repetition. People with this condition can
speak fluently and understand language, but they have a hard time repeating words,
or sentences, that have been spoken to them. It’s also known as associative
aphasia.

Anomic aphasia
Anomic aphasia results in difficulty with naming objects. A person with this condition
can recognize and understand what an object is, and what it’s used for, but they
have trouble finding the correct word or name for the object.

Prognosis

 In most individuals with expressive aphasia, the majority of recovery is

seen within the first year following a stroke or injury. The majority of this 6
 improvement is seen in the first four weeks in therapy following a stroke
and slows thereafter. However, this timeline will vary depending upon the
type of stroke experienced by the patient.
 Patients who experienced an ischemic stroke may recover in the days and
weeks following the stroke, and then experience a plateau and gradual
slowing of recovery.
 On the contrary, patients who experienced a hemorrhagic stroke
experience a slower recovery in the first 4–8 weeks, followed by a faster
recovery which eventually stabilizes.

Prevention
There is no one method for preventing Broca’s aphasia or any type of aphasia. One
way to try to prevent it is by reducing your risk of having a stroke. This may require
lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, lowering your alcohol consumption,
and losing weight. Medications that lower blood pressure and cholesterol can also
help. Talk to your doctor about your stroke risk and about lifestyle changes you can
make to reduce it.

It’s also important to safeguard your head during sports and other activities, such as
riding a motorcycle. Wearing a helmet can help to prevent the types of brain injuries
that can lead to aphasia.

Outlook
People with Broca’s aphasia often make significant improvements in their ability to
speak over time. The extent of the damage, its cause, and your overall health and
age are all factors that may impact recovery.

Improvement with speech may begin within days, weeks, or months of the injury.
Improvements may continue to be seen for years afterward.
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 References
Expressive aphasia. (2019, October 25). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expressive_aphasia#Causes.

Whelan, C. (2017, August 29). Broca's Aphasia: Symptoms, Treatments, and

Types. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/brocas-aphasia.