1992 Volume 12 Issue 4 Pages 323-336
The Standard Language Test for Aphasia (SLTA) was conducted on 72 aphasic patients who had suffered from brain damage for more than 3 years, for a comparative study of the level achieved on the test in relation to the lesion confirmed by CT diagnosis and the age of onset. The level expressed by the total SLTA rating score was highest in cases with lesions limited to the basal ganglia and lesions localized in the anterior (preroladic) area, followed by those with lesions localized in the posterior (postrolandic) area. The level was lowest in cases of extensive lesions and large lesions involving the basal ganglia. Many with the age of onset ≤40 years improved to a slight aphasia level. In a comparison between this group and that with an age of onset over 40 years, those with extensive lesions and lesions localized in the posterior area showed a significant difference in level of achievement. Among patients with lesions limited to the anterior area, the age of onset was associated with no significant difference in the level of achievement. Furthermore although aphasic symptoms improved remarkably, apraxia of speech persisted in this group. Among patients with lesions localized in the posterior area, on the other hand, differences in levels of achievement in tasks involving auditory comprehension or word association were found dependent on the age of onset. These findings suggest variations in plasticity of the cerebral functions. Among the patients with lesions of the basal ganglia, the achivement level varied markedly according to focal characteristics, and it might be difficult to describe their prognosis collectively as putaminal aphasia.
