Frame aphasia due to Broca’s area impairment: a Persian case report

Abstract

Background: Frame/content theory considers speech as a phenomenon evolved from mandibular cyclicities for the physiologic primitive functions of feeding.Aims: This case report emphasises two aspects: first, the speech clinical characteristics of a left hemisphere damaged patient, which may be regarded as evidence of frame/content theory because there appears to be a regression to the most primitive stages of canonical babbling, and second, regarding its localised brain impairment limited to Broca’s area boundaries.Methods & Procedures: We have provided a phonetically transcribed sample of speech and then analysed the articulated forms of syllables, mainly in words. A total of 403 syllables of the patient’s productions were analysed by articulatory phonetics method.Outcomes & Results: Many patterns of articulation of this case, especially the labial–central and fronted dorsal–front pattern, may reveal a “frame without content” pattern that we believe to be a case of frame aphasia.Conclusions: This patient may be considered as evidence of frame/content dissociation due to brain damage. Broca’s area’s role in subserving such a stage of content representation and loading in speech production is hypothesised.