Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What type of speech issue would most likely arise from an injury to the left hemisphere?

1. Inability to interpret music

2. Disorganized thought processing

3. Expressive aphasia

4. Impaired reading comprehension

The correct answer is: Expressive aphasia

Injuries to the left hemisphere of the brain are often associated with language processing, as this side is primarily responsible for verbal communication in most individuals. Expressive aphasia, also known as Broca's aphasia, is characterized by difficulties in producing speech. Individuals may struggle to form complete sentences and might speak in short, fragmented phrases, though they often can understand language relatively well. The prevalence of expressive aphasia following damage to the left hemisphere highlights its critical role in language production. In this context, the left hemisphere contains key areas such as Broca's area, which governs speech production. Thus, an injury here can directly impede a person's ability to express themselves verbally while their comprehension may remain intact. Conditions such as inability to interpret music and disorganized thought processing are more associated with damage to other areas of the brain, while impaired reading comprehension can result from various other types of brain injuries that may not be exclusive to the left hemisphere. Therefore, expressive aphasia is the most directly linked condition to left hemisphere injuries, underscoring its central role in speech and language functioning.