Central aphasia (Latin aphasia centralis; Greek ἀφασία κεντρική) is one of the types of aphasia characterized by loss of the ability to speak while maintaining understanding of spoken speech and the ability to use facial expressions and gestures.
Central aphasia occurs when the cortical speech zones are damaged in the central part of the dominant hemisphere (for right-handers - left, for left-handers - right).
Central aphasia is based on a disruption of the connection between signals entering the cerebral cortex from the peripheral organs of hearing and voice, and the centers of their analysis and synthesis. In this case, not only speech areas are affected, but also other areas of the cortex associated with these functions.
With aphasia of the central type, the articulation of sounds is impaired, the ability to pronounce words, phrases, construct sentences, understand someone else's speech, read and write is lost. As a result, the patient’s speech becomes incomprehensible both to others and to himself.
However, with aphasia of the central type, understanding of oral speech, writing from dictation, lip reading, and understanding of gestures are preserved.
Aphasia is treated by a speech therapist.