Praxis SLP Licensure Exam

After a left middle cerebral artery infarction, what AAC approach is most beneficial for a patient with severe Broca's aphasia?

1. Supplemental verbal expression with eye game system

2. Provision of a speech-generating device

3. Supplemental verbal expression with writing

4. Supplemental verbal expression with a picture board

The correct answer is: Supplemental verbal expression with a picture board

For a patient with severe Broca's aphasia after a left middle cerebral artery infarction, utilizing a supplemental verbal expression approach with a picture board is particularly beneficial. This method allows the patient to communicate needs and ideas visually, which can be more effective given the patient's likely difficulties with expressive language. Broca's aphasia is characterized by non-fluent speech and challenges in sentence formation, where individuals know what they want to say but have difficulty articulating it verbally. A picture board provides visual representations of common concepts, actions, or objects, enabling the patient to communicate with caregivers or family members more easily and effectively. Additionally, using a picture board requires less cognitive load than other complex communication methods, allowing the patient to express themselves without feeling overwhelmed. This method fosters participation in conversations and promotes engagement, which is essential in aphasia rehabilitation, as it encourages the individual to practice communication in a supportive environment. Other methods listed, while potentially useful in different contexts, may not meet the immediate needs of a patient with severe Broca's aphasia as effectively as a picture board. For instance, a speech-generating device could be challenging for a patient with severe impairments to navigate. Supplemental verbal expression through writing may also pose difficulties, as writing can