Traumatic Aphasia in Children and Adults: A Comparison of Clinical Features and Evolution

Abstract

We compared the performance on test of language, apraxia, acalculia and intelligence of 32 children — age 5 to 16 years — and 31 adults, seen at our Aphasia Unit for the sequelae of a brain trauma. Logorrhea was never present among children who had nonfluent aphasia more frequently than adults. Apraxia and acalculia were equally present in the two groups. Twelve children and 15 adults of the first study were retested at variable distance from trauma. No group difference was found in the recovery of auditory comprehension (Token Test) or oral expression (oral confrontation naming and telling-of-an-event). On a battery of verbal and spatial memory tests 6 of the 12 children had pathological scores in one or more tests. Scholastic achievements were compared with those of the nearest kin. We conclude that while aphasia profiles are different in children and adults, the incidence of apraxia and acalculia and the recovery rate do not discriminate the two groups.