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Anomia

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Overview

Anomia, also known as Anomic Aphasia, is a language disorder characterised by difficulty in naming objects while speaking and writingt is commonly caused by brain damage resulting from stroke, trauma, or tumours. Individuals with anomia experience trouble recalling the names of objects, despite having grammatically fluent language skills.

Types of Anomia

  1. Word Selection Anomia

    People with word selection anomia can recognise objects but struggle to remember their names. For example, they may see a lamp and understand its function but cannot retrieve the word "lamp" to name it.

  2. Word Production Anomia

    Patients with word production anomia have difficulty producing names for objects, although they may feel close to remembering them. With cues or prompts, they may recognise the correct word.

  3. Semantic Anomia

    Semantic anomia refers to the inability to identify an object even when its name is provided. For instance, a person with semantic anomia may not be able to pick up a hammer from a box of tools, even if the name "hammer" is shown to them.

  4. Disconnection Anomia

    Disconnection anomia can be further classified into specific subtypes:

    • Category-specific Anomia: This subtype involves the inability to identify objects belonging to a particular category, such as animals or bodily parts. For example, individuals with category-specific anomia may have difficulty recognising colours.
    • Modality-Specific Anomia: People with modality-specific anomia struggle to distinguish objects using a specific sense, such as sight or touch.
    • Callosal Anomia: Callosal anomia occurs when individuals cannot recognise objects they are holding due to a lack of information transmission between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

Anomia Causes

Anomia is primarily caused by damage to the left hemisphere of the brain, although it can rarely result from right hemisphere damage. The left hemisphere typically controls speech for right-handed individuals, while the right hemisphere may control speech for left-handed individuals.

Several events can lead to the development of anomia, including:

  • Stroke: The most common cause of anomia, stroke occurs when blood vessels in the brain are blocked, leading to permanent brain tissue damage.
  • Head trauma: Traumatic injuries to the head can cause permanent brain damage, resulting in anomia.
  • Brain Tumours: Tumours in the left hemisphere of the brain can cause various symptoms, including anomia. As the tumour grows, the severity of anomia may increase.
  • Lesions: Structural lesions in the brain can contribute to the development of anomia.
  • Neurodegenerative diseases: Anomia may accompany neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.
  • Hereditary factors: Genetic predisposition can play a role in the development of anomia.

Anomia Diagnosis

To diagnose anomia, doctors may request imaging tests, such as CT or MRI scans, to determine the location and severity of brain damage. During treatment for brain injury or stroke, doctors may also screen for anomic aphasia by assessing the patient's ability to follow commands, name objects, participate in conversations, answer questions, write words, and read.

Speech-language pathologists assist in identifying communication impairments, including anomia, by assessing the patient's speech clarity, ability to express coherent ideas, interaction skills, reading and writing abilities, comprehension of verbal and written language, use of alternative forms of communication, and swallowing function.

Anomia Treatment

Treatment for anomia is similar to that for other types of aphasia. The following methods are commonly employed:

  • Medication: Research is being conducted on medications that may aid in the treatment of aphasia. These medications include those that enhance blood flow to the brain, improve the brain's recovery capacity, or help replenish depleted substances in the brain, such as neurotransmitters.
  • Speech Therapy: Speech therapy is a standard treatment option for individuals with anomic aphasia, aiming to improve their communication skills. Speech therapists help patients restore speech abilities or develop alternative methods of communication.
  • Visual Action Therapy: Visual action therapy employs nonverbal approaches to help individuals learn gestures for communicating the absence of an object. This therapy may be suitable for patients with global aphasia, which encompasses symptoms of anomic aphasia.
  • Circumlocution-Induced Naming Therapy (CIN): CIN involves using circumlocution (describing or talking around a target word) to assist with naming difficulties. Patients are encouraged to describe an object using related words or phrases instead of directly stating its name. This therapy helps strengthen the connection between semantics and phonology, enabling individuals with anomia to improve their naming abilities.
  • Self-Cueing Strategy: The self-cueing strategy focuses on developing word retrieval skills by associating cue words with the target word. Patients identify cue words that they can easily remember and form connections between these cues and words that begin with the same sound as the target word but are challenging to retrieve. This strategy helps patients utilise the cue word to aid in word retrieval for the target object.

Anomia Risk Factors

The primary risk factor for anomia is stroke, as conditions leading to stroke can also contribute to the development of anomia. Other risk factors include a family history of stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, poor cardiovascular health, male gender, obesity, overuse of alcohol, and chronic stress.

Prognosis

Anomic aphasia is considered one of the mildest forms of aphasia. The recovery time depends on the extent of brain damage and the underlying cause of the aphasia. If permanent brain damage has occurred, complete recovery may not be possible, although some individuals may experience improvements years after the initial incident. People with anomia, especially those with minor symptoms or working in positions that do not heavily rely on verbal communication, may be able to return to work.

Reviewed & Updated On

Reviewed by Dr. Sanjay Saxena, Senior Director & HOD, Neurosciences, Neurology on 13-Jun-2023.


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