Experience of The Rehabilitation for Sign Language Aphasia due to The Damage of The Right Brain in A Left-handed Deaf Japanese Signer

Abstract

  A left-handed, congenital deaf, adult male patient showed sign language aphasia due to right cerebral hemorrhage and ischemic right temporal lobe lesion caused by Moyamoya disease. Moderate left hemiparesis, unilateral space neglect, attention disorder, left homonymous quarter visual deficit were observed without limb segmental apraxia. Aphasia was observed in sign language, speech and writing. Mistakes in hand shape forming, inadequate hand or arm movement patterns, and expression or mimicking with finger characters showed phonological illusion. He could draw basic pictures, write numbers and names although showing construction disability. A speech therapist who can translate sign language was responsible for the training of this patient. The training included matching tasks where the patient had to match the therapistʼs signs to the correct word or picture cards. Writing training, conversation training using sign language and letters, and communication training using a mobile phoneʼs e-mail function were also applied. After the training, the patientʼs ability to express himself using both finger letters and phonetic languages had improved. Communication using a mobile phone also became possible. It was extremely difficult to manage the rehabilitation for such a rare case as this as there is no preliminary report. A speech therapist who can also translate sign language took on in this case.