Which term describes fluent speech with impaired comprehension?

Which term describes fluent speech with impaired comprehension?

• A. Wernicke aphasia
• B. Broca aphasia
• C. Mood
• D. Thought process

Answer: (A)

Fluent speech with impaired comprehension points to Wernicke aphasia. In this pattern, language production is fluent and well-formed, but understanding spoken language is severely disrupted. Patients often speak in long sentences with normal rhythm, yet their meanings can be nonsensical or filled with incorrect words (paraphasias and neologisms). They may struggle to follow instructions and seem unaware that their speech doesn’t make sense, reflecting impaired comprehension. This contrasts with Broca aphasia, where speech is nonfluent and effortful, but comprehension is relatively preserved. Mood and thought process refer to affective state and the organization of ideas, not to language production or comprehension, so they don’t fit this presentation.

Fluent speech with impaired comprehension points to Wernicke aphasia. In this pattern, language production is fluent and well-formed, but understanding spoken language is severely disrupted. Patients often speak in long sentences with normal rhythm, yet their meanings can be nonsensical or filled with incorrect words (paraphasias and neologisms). They may struggle to follow instructions and seem unaware that their speech doesn’t make sense, reflecting impaired comprehension.

This contrasts with Broca aphasia, where speech is nonfluent and effortful, but comprehension is relatively preserved. Mood and thought process refer to affective state and the organization of ideas, not to language production or comprehension, so they don’t fit this presentation.