Assessment of language disorders after right hemisphere damage

Abstract

A set of tests was developed to examine areas of language previously described as involving right hemisphere processing. These tests were constructed to be simple to administer and clinically useful. The tests included metaphorical comprehension, the understanding of inferred meaning and humour. A discourse analysis was also performed to investigate whether any language deficits were evident in more functional communication. Testing for aphasia was carried out using the Western Aphasia Battery. Groups of subjects with left or right cerebral hemisphere damage and a group of normal subjects were assessed. The results showed that the right hemisphere damaged subjects were impaired as compared to the control subjects on all of the language tests. However, they were not significantly different on the aphasia test. These results indicate that subtle language problems can occur after right hemisphere damage and these are apparent in functional communication (as assessed by discourse analysis). It is suggested that these language problems particularly concern inability to utilise linguistic information in context. It is further suggested that these language difficulties may account for some of the apparent social and emotional problems following right hemisphere damage.

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