This is because Wernickes area is responsible for assigning meaning to the language that is heard, so if it is damaged, the brain cannot comprehend the information that is being received. Poor word retrieval: ability to retrieve target words is impaired. This is also referred to as anomia. Fluent speech: individuals with Wernickes aphasia do not have difficulty with producing connected speech that flows. Although the connection of the words may be appropriate, the words they are using may not belong together or make sense (see Production of jargon below). Production of jargon: speech that lacks content, consists of typical intonation, and is structurally intact. Jargon can consist of a string of neologisms, as well as a combination of real words that do not make sense together in context. The jargon may include word salads. Awareness: Individuals with Wernickes aphasia are often not aware of their incorrect productions, which would further explain why they do not correct themselves when they produce jargon, paraphasias, or neologisms. Paraphasias:Phonemic (literal) paraphasias: involves the substitution, addition, or rearrangement of sounds so that an error can be defined as sounding like the target word. Often, half of the word is still intact which allows for easy comparison to the appropriate, original word. E.g. "bap" for "map"
Semantic (verbal) paraphasias: saying a word that is related to the target word in meaning or category; frequently observed in Wernickes aphasia. E.g. "jet" for "airplane" or "knife" for "fork"
Neologisms: nonwords that have no relation to the target word.E.g.
"dorflur" for "shoe"
Circumlocution: talking around the target word.E.g. "uhhh its white... its flat... you write on it..." (when referencing paper)
Press of speech: run-on speech.If a clinician asks, "what do you do at a supermarket?" And the individual responds with "Well, the supermarket is a place. It is a place with a lot of food. My favorite food is Italian food. At a supermarket, I buy different kinds of food. There are carts and baskets. Supermarkets have lots of customers, and workers..."
Lack of hemiparesis: typically, no motor deficits are seen with a localized lesion in Wernickes area. Reduced retention span: reduced ability to retain information for extended periods of time. Impairments in reading and writing: impairments can be seen in both reading and writing with differing severity levels.How to differentiate from other types of aphasia
Expressive aphasia (non-fluent Brocas aphasia): individuals have great difficulty forming complete sentences with generally only basic content words (leaving out words like "is" and "the"). Global aphasia: individuals have extreme difficulties with both expressive (producing language) and receptive (understanding language). Anomic aphasia: the biggest hallmark is ones poor word-finding abilities; ones speech is fluent and appropriate, but full of circumlocutions (evident in both writing and speech). Conduction aphasia: individuals can comprehend what is being said and are fluent in spontaneous speech, but they cannot repeat what is being said to them. Causes
The most common cause of Wernickes aphasia is stroke. Strokes may occur when blood flow to the brain is completely interrupted or severely reduced.