Do Intellect and Personality Influence Speech Reedu-cation in Aphasiacs?

Overview

The objective of the work was to assess the mutual relationship of intellect andpersonality on speech reeducation in patients with organic brain damage - aphasiacs and whether reeducation of symbolic and motor functions resp. can restore disease conditined disorders ofmental functions or whether it can lead to improved sociability in the personality structure ofpatients. The authors examined 79 aphasiac patients, mean age 53.8 years. Only those patients wereincluded in the group where a psychological examination could be made. The topical neurologicalfinding was evaluated at the onset of the disease, during weekly check-ups before discharge andone year after development of the disease. A complete psychological examination was made incl.examination of the intellect and personality. The speech disorder was evaluated qualitatively aswell as quantitatively. During hospitalization the patients had standard medicamentous treatment,rehabilitation treatment and regular speech re-education, at home only lay stimulation by familymembers.From the results ensues that patients who achieved favourable results in psychological testsimproved also as regards intellectual abilities and as regards emotional and social adaptability. Atthe same time marked improvement in all investigated areas of symbolic and motor functionsoccurred.The authors draw attention to the fact that a significantly improved performance of verbal IQ canbe considered a significant indicator of improved intellectual functioning during intense re-education of symbolic functions.

Key words:
aphasia, intellect, personality, speech and language therapy.