Auditory verbal agnosia

Auditory Verbal Agnosia

Auditory verbal agnosia (pronunciation: aw-dit-or-ee ver-buhl ag-noh-zee-uh), also known as pure word deafness, is a rare neurological condition characterized by the inability to understand spoken words, despite intact hearing, speech production, and reading abilities.

Etymology

The term "agnosia" is derived from the Greek words "a" (without) and "gnosis" (knowledge), indicating a lack of comprehension or understanding. The term "auditory verbal" refers to the specific domain of comprehension that is affected, namely spoken language.

Symptoms

Individuals with auditory verbal agnosia can hear sounds and speech, but cannot interpret or understand the meaning of the words. This is not due to a deficit in hearing, intelligence, attention, or psychiatric disorders. Other forms of language, such as written language, are typically unaffected.

Causes

Auditory verbal agnosia is typically caused by bilateral damage to the temporal lobes of the brain, particularly the superior temporal gyrus, which is involved in the processing of auditory information. This damage can be due to stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or neurodegenerative disease.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of auditory verbal agnosia is typically made through a combination of neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, and clinical examination. The individual's hearing is tested to ensure that the deficit is not due to a peripheral hearing loss. Neuropsychological tests assess the individual's ability to understand spoken language, while neuroimaging techniques such as MRI or CT scan can identify any damage or abnormalities in the brain.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for auditory verbal agnosia. Treatment typically involves speech therapy and cognitive rehabilitation, aimed at improving the individual's ability to use other forms of communication, such as written language or non-verbal cues.

Related Terms

• Agnosia
• Temporal lobe
• Neuropsychology
• Neuroimaging
• Speech therapy

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Auditory verbal agnosia
• Wikipedia's article - Auditory verbal agnosia

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