Question

Which one of the following is likely to be found in a patient with Wernicke's aphasia?

• A. Fluent speech output
• B. Normal repetition
• C. Acalculia
• D. Dysarthric speech pattern

Hint:

Think about which language function, comprehension or motor speech production, Wernicke's area controls.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks which clinical feature is characteristic of Wernicke's aphasia, a language disorder caused by damage to the posterior superior temporal gyrus, typically in the dominant hemisphere.

Step 2: Key Concept or Approach:
Aphasias are classified partly by whether speech output is fluent or non-fluent, and whether repetition and comprehension are preserved. Wernicke's area is involved in language comprehension, so damage here impairs understanding of spoken and written language, while the motor pathways for producing speech remain intact.

Step 3: Working Through the Options:
Fluent speech output is exactly what is seen; patients speak in long, grammatically flowing sentences, often at a normal or even increased rate, though the content is frequently meaningless or full of paraphasic errors because comprehension is impaired. Normal repetition is not seen, since the arcuate fasciculus connecting Wernicke's and Broca's areas is often affected too, so repetition is typically impaired. Acalculia is a feature more associated with dominant parietal lobe syndromes such as Gerstmann syndrome, not the defining feature of Wernicke's aphasia. A dysarthric speech pattern reflects a motor articulation problem, which is not part of Wernicke's aphasia since the motor speech pathways are unaffected.

Step 4: Conclusion:
The correct answer is fluent speech output, which is the classic and defining feature of Wernicke's aphasia.