Brain Damage in the Left Hemisphere
Broca's Area
Overview
Being a caretaker for someone who has brain damage can be difficult. This newsletter is here to help inform you of the damage, what the damage effects, and possible treatment options.
Damaged Brain Area
The left cerebral hemisphere of the brain was damaged after the patient had a stroke. This type of damage in the left frontal hemisphere is often caused as a result of a stroke or head injury (Stroke Center, 2016, para. 1). The specific area in the left frontal hemisphere that was damaged is called Broca's area.
Broca's Area
Left Hemisphere
Broca's Area
Functions Controlled by Broca's Area
Aphasia
Approximately 90-95% of all language impairment is caused by brain injury (Breedlove & Watson, 2013, p. 605).
Behavioral Changes Observed
- Loss of speech control
- Trouble Writing
- Trouble reading
- Apraxia - Motor Impairment
Some patients may lose the ability to produce any speech whatsoever but, most often patients retain the ability to produce some speech sounds (Breedlove & Watson, 2013, p. 606). Words may be produced very slowly and are often poorly articulated (UCSF Memory and Aging Center, 2014, para. 2).
This also includes hemiparesis, or weakness on one side of the body (Breedlove & Watson, 2013, p. 607).
Treatment Options
- One option is speech-language therapy (Stroke Center, 2016, para. 8).
- Another option is Aphasia therapy which is offered in both individual and group settings. This therapy focuses on the patient's ability to communicate by encouraging and helping them to use their remaining abilities, restore language abilities as much as possible, help them learn to compensate for language problems, and learn other methods of communication (Stroke Center, 2016, para. 9).
- Joining a Stroke club is another method, which helps form support for the patient. In these clubs they often learn new ways to communicate (Stroke Center, 2016, para. 9).
These treatment options provide a way for the patient to effectively learn to communicate again. There is currently no way to treat the damage done to the brain, but this does not mean there is no hope for recovery!
Caretaker's Questions
1. Can the patient recover without treatment?
2. How long does recovery take?
Recovery usually continues over a two year period (Stroke Center, 2016, para. 8).
3. What is the best way for me to communicate with the patient?
You are encouraged to:
- Use simplify language
- Often use short sentences.
- Repeat or write down words to help clarify the meaning.
- Minimize distractions around patient, whenever possible.
- Encourage any type of communication, whether it is speech, gesture, pointing, or drawing.
- Avoid correcting the individual’s speech.
- Give the patient plenty of time to talk.
- Encourage them to seek treatment and seek out support groups such as stroke clubs.
References
- Breedlove, S.M., & Watson, N.V. (2013). Biological psychology: An introduction to behavioral,cognitive, and clinical neuroscience (7th ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, Inc.
- Bright Enlightenment. (2012, July 7). How Does the Brain Work? - Human Cognition. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQEiux-AOzs
- Encyclopedia Britannica. (2016). Broca area Anatomy. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/science/Broca-area
- Stewart PhD, P. A., Cameron, T., & Farb, R. I. (2012). Functional Neuroanatomy - Deep Structures. Retrieved from http://fn.med.utoronto.ca/Deep.html#
- Stroke Center. (2016). What is Aphasia? Retrieved from http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/caregiver-and-patient-resources/aphasia-information/
- UCSF Memory and Aging Center. (2014, December 19). Disorders of Speech & Language. University of California. Retrieved from http://memory.ucsf.edu/brain/language/disorders
Picture References
- Database Center for Life Science. (2014). Broca's area. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broca's_area#/media/File:Broca's_area_-_lateral_view.png
- Encyclopedia Britannica. (2016). Broca area Anatomy. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/science/Broca-area
- Stroke Center. (2016). What is Aphasia? Retrieved from http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/caregiver-and-patient-resources/aphasia-information/