The Neurologist :: Neurology Brain Medical Essays

The Neurologist Language is a vital part of both verbal and non-verbal communication. Each of us uses language everyday in a variety of ways. When our language skills are in jeopardy, it can affect our entire lives. The consequences of a loss of language can be more restricting then that of loss of sight or hearing. Communication is a matter of survival and independence, without it ones life will change drastically. There is almost complete agreement that there are four main language areas in the left cerebral hemisphere of most people. Two of these areas are considered receptive while the other two carry out the actual task. These two receptive areas take on very different tasks, one involving the perception of written language and the other of spoken language. The area that helps to regulate written language is located in the angular gyrus, while the other occupies the Heschl’s gyri. Although language and speech are usually considered synonymous functions, this is not the case in all aspects of their roles. Unlike an impairment of speech, language impairment always occurs due to an abnormality of the cerebral hemisphere. Speech on the other hand may be effected by the same sort of abnormality but it also can be effected by damage to other parts of the brain. Loss of communication and language can be a result of damage to the temporal lobe of the brain. The type of language loss is dependent of what specific area of the temporal lobe has been damaged. Possible types of damage to the brain can be a lesion or a tumor. It is the job of the neurologist to locate the area of damage and to assess the level of impairment. Neurologist use a variety of test to asses the possible damage to the brain or spinal cord including CAT scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and a wide variety of functional, skill assessments. One of the most popular verbal memory assessments used in the field is the Wechsler Memory Scale, the most recently revised version has been a useful tool for neurologist to determine severity and location of the temporal damage. One of the first signs of a lesion to the temporal lobe is The Neurologist :: Neurology Brain Medical Essays The Neurologist Language is a vital part of both verbal and non-verbal communication. Each of us uses language everyday in a variety of ways. When our language skills are in jeopardy, it can affect our entire lives. The consequences of a loss of language can be more restricting then that of loss of sight or hearing. Communication is a matter of survival and independence, without it ones life will change drastically. There is almost complete agreement that there are four main language areas in the left cerebral hemisphere of most people. Two of these areas are considered receptive while the other two carry out the actual task. These two receptive areas take on very different tasks, one involving the perception of written language and the other of spoken language. The area that helps to regulate written language is located in the angular gyrus, while the other occupies the Heschl’s gyri. Although language and speech are usually considered synonymous functions, this is not the case in all aspects of their roles. Unlike an impairment of speech, language impairment always occurs due to an abnormality of the cerebral hemisphere. Speech on the other hand may be effected by the same sort of abnormality but it also can be effected by damage to other parts of the brain. Loss of communication and language can be a result of damage to the temporal lobe of the brain. The type of language loss is dependent of what specific area of the temporal lobe has been damaged. Possible types of damage to the brain can be a lesion or a tumor. It is the job of the neurologist to locate the area of damage and to assess the level of impairment. Neurologist use a variety of test to asses the possible damage to the brain or spinal cord including CAT scans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and a wide variety of functional, skill assessments. One of the most popular verbal memory assessments used in the field is the Wechsler Memory Scale, the most recently revised version has been a useful tool for neurologist to determine severity and location of the temporal damage. One of the first signs of a lesion to the temporal lobe is