APHEMIA Meaning and
Definition
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Aphemia is a term used in the field of neuropsychology to describe a type of language disorder characterized by the loss or impairment of the ability to articulate speech. It refers to a condition where individuals have difficulty or are unable to produce meaningful words or convert thoughts into spoken language. This disorder is particularly related to the inability to coordinate the complex movements required for speech production, rather than a loss of linguistic knowledge or comprehension.
Aphemia is typically caused by damage to specific brain areas involved in speech production, such as the frontal lobe or Broca's area. These areas are responsible for controlling the muscles used in speech articulation and maintaining the coordination necessary for fluent production of words. Consequently, individuals with aphemia may experience slow, labored, or incomprehensible speech, or they may even be completely mute.
Treatment options for aphemia typically involve speech therapy, where individuals are taught techniques to improve their ability to articulate words. Various exercises may focus on strengthening the muscles required for speech production, improving coordination, and enhancing overall fluency. Besides therapy, additional strategies may include assisted devices like picture boards or electronic speech-generating systems to facilitate communication.
It is important to note that aphemia is distinct from other language disorders such as aphasia, which refers to difficulties in understanding or expressing language due to brain damage or injury. While aphemia specifically corresponds to the impairment of speech articulation, aphasia encompasses broader language deficits.
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1. Amnesic aphasia, a form of motor aphasia in which the power of expressing one's ideas in spoken words is lost, owing to destruction of the memory center for words. 2. Anarthria.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for APHEMIA
- zphemia
- sphemia
- wphemia
- qphemia
- aohemia
- alhemia
- a-hemia
- a0hemia
- apgemia
- apbemia
- apnemia
- apjemia
- apuemia
- apyemia
- aphwmia
- aphsmia
- aphdmia
- aphrmia
- aph4mia
- aphdemia
Etymology of APHEMIA
The word Aphemia has its roots in the Greek language. It is composed of two elements: a which means without or not, and pheme which refers to speech or voice. Therefore, Aphemia literally means without speech or loss of speech.
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