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Multiple Choice

Which aphasia is fluent with preserved comprehension but impaired repetition and is sometimes linked to sparing of other language areas?

Fluent speech with preserved comprehension but impaired repetition points to a disconnection within the language network, known as conduction aphasia. This pattern arises when the arcuate fasciculus linking the listening/comprehension area (Wernicke’s) and the speaking/production area (Broca’s) is damaged. The core language areas themselves can remain functional, so understanding and spontaneous speech stay relatively intact, but repeating heard speech falters because the pathway between listening and speaking is disrupted. The mention of sparing other language areas aligns with this, since the problem is the connection, not the individual centers. Among the other syndromes, Broca’s aphasia is nonfluent with relatively good comprehension (repetition often impaired), Wernicke’s is fluent but with poor comprehension, global aphasia shows widespread deficits in speech, comprehension, and repetition, and mixed transcortical aphasia has preserved repetition despite other language impairments. The described profile best fits conduction aphasia, which explains why repetition is the impaired function while comprehension and fluent production can be relatively preserved.

Fluent speech with preserved comprehension but impaired repetition points to a disconnection within the language network, known as conduction aphasia. This pattern arises when the arcuate fasciculus linking the listening/comprehension area (Wernicke’s) and the speaking/production area (Broca’s) is damaged. The core language areas themselves can remain functional, so understanding and spontaneous speech stay relatively intact, but repeating heard speech falters because the pathway between listening and speaking is disrupted. The mention of sparing other language areas aligns with this, since the problem is the connection, not the individual centers.

Among the other syndromes, Broca’s aphasia is nonfluent with relatively good comprehension (repetition often impaired), Wernicke’s is fluent but with poor comprehension, global aphasia shows widespread deficits in speech, comprehension, and repetition, and mixed transcortical aphasia has preserved repetition despite other language impairments. The described profile best fits conduction aphasia, which explains why repetition is the impaired function while comprehension and fluent production can be relatively preserved.