Approaches to the Study of Aphasia

Abstract

The study of aphasia may be motivated by clinical as well as theoretical considerations. It has been estimated that about 1 million people suffer from aphasia in the United States (Sarno, 1980). In Sweden, the incidence of aphasia has been estimated at 60 per 100,000 inhabitants per year (Broman, Lindholm, & Melin, 1967), and in Norway, Petlund (1970) estimated the prevalence at.09%. The most frequent cause of aphasia is stroke, which is itself a common disease in an elderly population. Whereas the risk of stroke in the fifth decade of life is.2%, the corresponding risk in the seventh decade is 2.0% (Marquardsen, 1969). Add the fact that 20% to 25% of stroke patients are initially aphasic (Brust, Schafer, Richter, & Bruun, 1976), and the magnitude of the clinical problems becomes striking. In this context, the need for practical and reliable methods of testing is apparent. A classification system with knowledge of associated neurological and neuropsychological deficits, prognosis, and underlying pathology is a prerequisite for sound treatment.