Brain-Based Communication Disorders

Book excerpt: Brain-Based Communication Disorders introduces the reader to the major clinically recognized types of acquired speech/language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders encountered by clinicians working with child and adult neurological cases. The text provides contemporary and state-of-the-art content on these disorders in terms of their neuropathological bases, clinical symptomatology, and prognosis. Basic anatomy and physiology of human communication and swallowing is introduced, as well as the neural mechanisms controlling speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing functions. In addition to the traditional acquired speech/language disorders of the nervous system (aphasia; neuromotor speech disorders) content including communication impairments caused by traumatic brain injury, multisystem blast injuries, and degenerative disorders of the nervous system is also provided. The reader is also introduced to the principles that govern the assessment and treatment for both pediatric and adult populations.