SLP Virtual Case Study: Adult Aphasia Evaluation
Karen - Assessment [2026 Updated] | Carlos Albizu
University Complete Q&A Study Guide (100% Correct
Answers)
Section 1: Case History & Neuroanatomy
Q1: Karen is a 62-year-old female who suffered a left middle cerebral artery (MCA)
stroke two weeks ago. Based on the vascular territory, which type of aphasia is
she most likely to present with initially?
A) Wernicke’s aphasia
B) Broca’s aphasia
C) Anomic aphasia
D) Global aphasia
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Broca’s aphasia.
Rationale: The left MCA is the most common site for ischemic strokes affecting
language. Occlusion of the superior division of the left MCA typically affects
Broca's area (inferior frontal gyrus), resulting in non-fluent, agrammatic speech
(Broca's aphasia).
Q2: During the case history, Karen’s husband reports that she understands what is
being said to her but gets extremely frustrated when she cannot find the words to
speak. This symptom is clinically known as:
A) Apraxia of speech
B) Anomia
C) Agraphia
D) Alexia
,CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Anomia.
Rationale: Anomia (word-finding difficulty) is the hallmark feature of all aphasias.
Patients typically have relatively intact auditory comprehension but struggle to
retrieve the lexical forms of words during spontaneous speech.
Q3: Which specific neuroanatomical structure, located in the posterior part of the
inferior frontal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere, is typically lesioned in patients
presenting with non-fluent, effortful speech?
A) Brodmann Area 22
B) Brodmann Area 44
C) Brodmann Area 39
D) Brodmann Area 17
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Brodmann Area 44.
Rationale: Brodmann Area 44 (pars opercularis) and Area 45 (pars triangularis)
make up Broca's area. Damage here results in motor speech planning deficits and
agrammatism characteristic of Broca's aphasia.
Q4: Karen’s MRI reveals damage extending into the white matter beneath the
cortex. Why is subcortical white matter damage significant in aphasia prognosis?
A) It indicates a transient ischemic attack (TIA) rather than a true stroke.
B) It often disrupts neural pathways connecting language centers, potentially
worsening language deficits and complicating recovery.
C) It guarantees that the patient will develop Primary Progressive Aphasia.
D) It indicates the lesion is exclusively in the right hemisphere.
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) It often disrupts neural pathways connecting language
centers, potentially worsening language deficits and complicating recovery.
, Rationale: Subcortical lesions (e.g., in the internal capsule or basal ganglia) can
damage the arcuate fasciculus and other connecting fibers, leading to
disconnection syndromes and often resulting in poorer recovery outcomes
compared to purely cortical lesions.
Q5: According to the World Health Organization’s International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model, Karen’s inability to order her own
coffee at a cafe would be classified as a deficit in:
A) Body Function
B) Body Structure
C) Activity
D) Participation
CORRECT ANSWER>: D) Participation.
Rationale: The ICF model defines "Participation" as involvement in life situations.
Ordering coffee in a social setting is a life role restriction caused by the activity
limitation (anomia) and body function deficit (neural lesion).
Section 2: Virtual Assessment Setup & Telehealth Considerations
Q6: As the SLP conducting a virtual evaluation via telehealth, what is the first
critical step you must take before initiating standardized testing with Karen?
A) Ensure the platform is HIPAA-compliant and verify Karen's identity.
B) Send Karen the test manual via mail.
C) Instruct Karen to use her phone for audio and her computer for video.
D) Skip the case history since it is virtual.
CORRECT ANSWER>: A) Ensure the platform is HIPAA-compliant and verify Karen's
identity.
Karen - Assessment [2026 Updated] | Carlos Albizu
University Complete Q&A Study Guide (100% Correct
Answers)
Section 1: Case History & Neuroanatomy
Q1: Karen is a 62-year-old female who suffered a left middle cerebral artery (MCA)
stroke two weeks ago. Based on the vascular territory, which type of aphasia is
she most likely to present with initially?
A) Wernicke’s aphasia
B) Broca’s aphasia
C) Anomic aphasia
D) Global aphasia
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Broca’s aphasia.
Rationale: The left MCA is the most common site for ischemic strokes affecting
language. Occlusion of the superior division of the left MCA typically affects
Broca's area (inferior frontal gyrus), resulting in non-fluent, agrammatic speech
(Broca's aphasia).
Q2: During the case history, Karen’s husband reports that she understands what is
being said to her but gets extremely frustrated when she cannot find the words to
speak. This symptom is clinically known as:
A) Apraxia of speech
B) Anomia
C) Agraphia
D) Alexia
,CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Anomia.
Rationale: Anomia (word-finding difficulty) is the hallmark feature of all aphasias.
Patients typically have relatively intact auditory comprehension but struggle to
retrieve the lexical forms of words during spontaneous speech.
Q3: Which specific neuroanatomical structure, located in the posterior part of the
inferior frontal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere, is typically lesioned in patients
presenting with non-fluent, effortful speech?
A) Brodmann Area 22
B) Brodmann Area 44
C) Brodmann Area 39
D) Brodmann Area 17
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) Brodmann Area 44.
Rationale: Brodmann Area 44 (pars opercularis) and Area 45 (pars triangularis)
make up Broca's area. Damage here results in motor speech planning deficits and
agrammatism characteristic of Broca's aphasia.
Q4: Karen’s MRI reveals damage extending into the white matter beneath the
cortex. Why is subcortical white matter damage significant in aphasia prognosis?
A) It indicates a transient ischemic attack (TIA) rather than a true stroke.
B) It often disrupts neural pathways connecting language centers, potentially
worsening language deficits and complicating recovery.
C) It guarantees that the patient will develop Primary Progressive Aphasia.
D) It indicates the lesion is exclusively in the right hemisphere.
CORRECT ANSWER>: B) It often disrupts neural pathways connecting language
centers, potentially worsening language deficits and complicating recovery.
, Rationale: Subcortical lesions (e.g., in the internal capsule or basal ganglia) can
damage the arcuate fasciculus and other connecting fibers, leading to
disconnection syndromes and often resulting in poorer recovery outcomes
compared to purely cortical lesions.
Q5: According to the World Health Organization’s International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model, Karen’s inability to order her own
coffee at a cafe would be classified as a deficit in:
A) Body Function
B) Body Structure
C) Activity
D) Participation
CORRECT ANSWER>: D) Participation.
Rationale: The ICF model defines "Participation" as involvement in life situations.
Ordering coffee in a social setting is a life role restriction caused by the activity
limitation (anomia) and body function deficit (neural lesion).
Section 2: Virtual Assessment Setup & Telehealth Considerations
Q6: As the SLP conducting a virtual evaluation via telehealth, what is the first
critical step you must take before initiating standardized testing with Karen?
A) Ensure the platform is HIPAA-compliant and verify Karen's identity.
B) Send Karen the test manual via mail.
C) Instruct Karen to use her phone for audio and her computer for video.
D) Skip the case history since it is virtual.
CORRECT ANSWER>: A) Ensure the platform is HIPAA-compliant and verify Karen's
identity.
