Which aphasia is associated with fluent speech but poor comprehension?

Which aphasia is associated with fluent speech but poor comprehension?

• A. Global aphasia
• B. Broca's aphasia
• C. Wernicke's aphasia
• D. Dysarthria

Answer: (C)

Fluent speech with poor comprehension points to a receptive language problem associated with Wernicke's area. In this type of aphasia, the words flow normally in rate and rhythm, but what is said often lacks meaning, and understanding spoken language is markedly impaired. Patients may produce jargon or nonsensical phrases and have trouble grasping what others mean, even with normal intonation and grammar. Repetition is also typically impaired because the underlying ability to process language is disrupted. This contrasts with Broca's aphasia, where speech is nonfluent and effortful but comprehension is relatively preserved, and with global aphasia, where language is severely impaired across output and comprehension. Dysarthria, on the other hand, is a motor speech disorder affecting articulation rather than language understanding, so it doesn’t inherently involve poor comprehension.

Fluent speech with poor comprehension points to a receptive language problem associated with Wernicke's area. In this type of aphasia, the words flow normally in rate and rhythm, but what is said often lacks meaning, and understanding spoken language is markedly impaired. Patients may produce jargon or nonsensical phrases and have trouble grasping what others mean, even with normal intonation and grammar. Repetition is also typically impaired because the underlying ability to process language is disrupted.

This contrasts with Broca's aphasia, where speech is nonfluent and effortful but comprehension is relatively preserved, and with global aphasia, where language is severely impaired across output and comprehension. Dysarthria, on the other hand, is a motor speech disorder affecting articulation rather than language understanding, so it doesn’t inherently involve poor comprehension.