Broca's Aphasia

When the frontal lobe of the brain is damaged by a stroke, Broca's aphasia is common in about 1/3 of those people. Broca's aphasia also known as nonfluent aphasia is a language impairment that includes:

• Difficulty in language production e.g., reading, writing, speaking.
• Understanding complex sentences e.g., omitting pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, helping verbs.
• Word meanings, not just pronunciation. 
• Frequently speak in short phrases that make sense but are produced with great effort.

Other impairments include:

• Right-sided weakness or paralysis of the arm and leg because the frontal lobe is also important for motor movements.

What is important to realize is that even though the risk of stroke doubles for each decade between the ages of 55 and 85, they also can occur in childhood or adolescence and men and women are equally affected. According to the National Aphasia Association, approximately 80,000 individuals acquire aphasia each year from strokes. About one million people in the United States currently have aphasia. It is definitely smart to stay informed and aware of the possible treatable risk factors of stroke such as:

• High blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking
• Heart disease
• Diabetes 
• Cholesterol imbalance
• Obesity or physical inactivity
• History of TIA or stroke

You can find more information on preventing strokes here as well as a chart to help determine your stroke risk if you are above the age of 55.

Areas of the brain affected by 

Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia

The video below is one of many that Sarah Scott has made over the past couple of years of her life and progress after a stroke at the age of 18. She has Broca's aphasia. Just by watching a few minutes, it is amazing to see her work at her language and over the course of her videos, she has such an increase in her abilities. Very informative and definitely inspiring to watch.