OVERVIEW

What is motor aphasia?

A type of speech production disorder, also called expressive aphasia or Broca's aphasia.

Patients can understand spoken content but cannot express themselves fluently.

This can cause significant frustration because patients know what they want to say but cannot articulate it as intended.

Is motor aphasia common?

Not uncommon.

In China, the annual stroke incidence rate is 150 per 100,000, with a mortality rate of 120 per 100,000. Given that over 50% of stroke survivors develop aphasia, at least around 210,000 new aphasia cases occur annually. In the U.S., this figure is approximately 180,000.

What causes motor aphasia?

The most common cause is stroke in related brain regions. Other causes include traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, and brain infections.

Which brain areas are affected in motor aphasia?

Damage occurs in the brain region adjacent to the lower part of the precentral gyrus and the posterior third of the inferior frontal gyrus.

SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms of motor aphasia?

• Manifested as non-fluent speech, laborious speaking, resembling "sending telegrams."
• Difficulty finding words, only able to say one or two simple words, often with inappropriate word usage, or only able to produce isolated sounds.
• Basic comprehension of spoken language remains intact, but repetition, naming, reading, and writing may be impaired to varying degrees.

Example:

Doctor: May I ask when you graduated?

Patient: I... um... 7... 7 years ago...

Doctor: What do you do for work?

Patient: Um... work... um... wo... in... sales...

CAUSES

None.

DIAGNOSIS

Which departments should be consulted for motor aphasia?

Neurology, Rehabilitation Medicine.

What tests are needed for motor aphasia?

• When aphasia is suspected, tests should be conducted to assess language fluency, object-naming ability, repetition of simple phrases, comprehension of simple and complex commands, as well as reading and writing skills.
• Formal neuropsychological testing may help determine the type and severity of language impairment.
• Neuroimaging such as CT, MRI, fMRI, PET, or SPECT may be required for localization and diagnosis.
• Depression screening is also necessary, as it is common among patients with motor aphasia.

How is motor aphasia diagnosed?

If a patient exhibits aphasia after a stroke or other forms of brain injury, the doctor will assess their comprehension and communication abilities through conversation.

If speech or comprehension issues are evident or suspected, additional neuropsychological testing will be conducted.

Additionally, brain MRI or CT scans can help identify the affected brain region and the extent of damage.

What conditions might motor aphasia indicate?

Any factor causing damage to specific brain regions may lead to aphasia. Motor aphasia may suggest:

• Stroke;
• Brain tumor;
• Trauma, such as severe head injury or gunshot wound;
• Brain infection.

TREATMENT

How to Treat Broca's Aphasia

There is currently no standard treatment for Broca's aphasia. Rehabilitation plans must be tailored to each patient's condition.

1. Speech Rehabilitation Therapy

   This is the primary treatment for aphasia patients, requiring collaboration among speech therapists, neuropsychologists, and neurologists to develop a rehabilitation plan.

   For Broca's aphasia caused by stroke, the best recovery of language function occurs within 2 to 6 months. However, patients should still be encouraged to continue rehabilitation training, as language function can improve over a long period after a stroke.

2. Medication

   Currently, drug treatments for Broca's aphasia are mostly in the clinical trial stage, with unclear efficacy.

   Common medications include: memantine, catecholaminergic drugs (e.g., bromocriptine, levodopa, amantadine, dextroamphetamine), piracetam and related compounds, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and neurotrophic factors.

3. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Stimulation

   These treatments for aphasia are also in the experimental and research phase.

Can Broca's Aphasia Be Cured?

It depends on the underlying cause.

• The location and extent of brain damage can determine whether symptoms will fully resolve.
• Rehabilitation therapy greatly aids recovery from Broca's aphasia.
• Generally, most aphasia patients regain language function within 6 months after a stroke or injury. However, continued rehabilitation training in the following months or years may lead to further improvement.

What Should Be Noted When Caring for Someone with Broca's Aphasia?

When communicating with a Broca's aphasia patient, please remember:

• They are just as intelligent as before but may struggle with fluent expression.
• Be understanding, as they may feel frustrated by their condition.
• Be patient to help them better integrate with family or friends.
• Encourage them to actively participate in conversations.

If you have Broca's aphasia:

• Engage in conversations with trusted individuals to speed up recovery.
• Practice phrases like "How are you?" or "What did you do on vacation?" in front of a mirror to build confidence.
• Reduce background noise and eliminate unnecessary distractions.
• Continue rehabilitation exercises at your own pace.

DIET & LIFESTYLE

None.

PREVENTION

None.