Aphasia

Pathological condition in which the power of expre ing ideas by articulate sounds is destroyed or impaired; often a ociated with the lo or derangement of the power of expre ing ideas by written symbols (agraphia), or by gestures (amimia), as well as inability to recognize the use and import of objects (apraxia). The two main varieties are amnesic or sensory, in which the word-memories are lost or interfered with, and ataxic or motor, in which the articulation of the sounds is imperfect or wholly prevented. These two are usually found together. In pure amnesic aphasia, the patient may be unable to under stand spoken words (word-deafne ), or written language (alexia or word-blindne ), or to use words without confusion (paraphasia or heterophasia). In ataxic or motor aphasia the patient is in full po e ion of the idea he wishes to convey. but is unable to expre it in words. In both forms the derangement may be partial or complete. If the aphasia be purely ataxic, the patient recognizes the fact that what he utters is incorrect or meaningle ; if amnesic, he may or may not recognize its inadequacy according to the degree of the amnesia.