Treating the fluent aphasias.
The origin of the term fluent aphasia is reviewed as well as the characteristics and syndromes of patients presenting with this type of aphasia. Three strategies are presented for describing the impairments and disabilities associated with fluent aphasia: (a) syndrome-based, (b) model-driven, and (c) functionally oriented. Treatment approaches that conform to each of these strategies are discussed. Current methods for assessing the effectiveness of treatment efforts with fluent aphasic patients are described. Some recent findings regarding the causes and characteristics of fluent aphasia are presented with regard to their potential impact on future interventions for these patients.
a Associate Professor Departments of Otolaryngology, Neurological Sciences, and Communication Disorders and Sciences Rush University Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center Chicago , Illinois.
Richard K
RK
Peach
Wernicke's aphasia; acquired aphasia; anomia; cerebrovascular disorders; classification; diagnosis; language disorders; rehabilitation