Lésions cérébrales focales et aphasie : présentations cliniques et évaluations

Focal cerebral lesions and aphasia: clinical presentations and assessments The assessment of episodes of aphasia has evolved in recent decades and has been enhanced by various theoretical contributions provided by linguistics, cognitive neuropsychology, connectionism and functional imaging tech niques. The clinical reality, however, complies with the practical require ments, such as the patient’s general condition at the time of commencement of the aphasia and the context of the examination. After having reviewed some tests administered in the acute phase and tests batteries used in stabilised patients, we recall the classic examination structure, as well as the classification of aphasias. A brief history will enable us to understand how the integration of theories from cognitive neuropsychology and connec tionism currently enables us to overstep the linguistic analysis, in order to explore the various cognitive domains involved in aphasia. This approach will be illus trated by examples of denomination and repetition.