Is this Aphasia?

Gthoma

I'm a little confused about Aphasia. When I make a statement or ask a question and DWs reply is totally off topic, is that Aphasia? Like this: Me: "I got us some more Strawberries." DW: "That's because I'm not very tall." Speech is clear as a bell just makes no sense.

Thanks.

M1

Hi Gthoma. I think the technical term for this is paraphasia, or the phrase "Wernicke's aphasia" also comes to mind--the Wernicke's area of the temporal lobe being the part that controls word choice. I'm really reaching here and would have to look it up...but yes, it is a form of aphasia. You can see various forms of this with strokes as well as dementia, it just depends on what parts of the temporal lobe are affected.

Marta

This is an example of fluent aphasia. Can she still read and write?

Gthoma

Yes. Reads and writes but with little understanding.

DJnAZ

The Mayo Clinic has a good explanation of aphasia in general and the various types of aphasia:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aphasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369518

My wife has Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), or global aphasia, a very debilitating type, and understands very little of what she hears and only speaks in 3-4 word sentences. Her sentences almost always end with the word "terrible". For example, when she sees me (she is in a MC facility) she will smile and say..."Oh, we can terrible". Or, "lets go terrible". I believe she is really trying to communicate but simply repeats the same short sentences over and over.

Northwestern University also has an explanation of aphasia:

https://www.brain.northwestern.edu/pdfs/Disease%20Summaries/ppa.pdf

Your wife should be evaluated by a neurologist who can be more specific about her condition.