The role of the left frontal operculum in sign language aphasia

Abstract

Abstract Broca's area has long been implicated in aspects of speech production. But does this region play a role in the production of signed language in prelingually deaf individuals? In this report, we describe our findings in a patient, congenitally deaf and a native user of American Sign Language, who suffered an ischemic infarct involving the left frontal operculum. Our patient presented with an acute expressive aphasia that subsequently resolved, and a chronic deficit predominantly characterized by frequent phonemic-like paraphaslas. We conclude that the left frontal operculum does, in fact, play a role in the production of signed language.