MCAT Social and Behavioral Sciences : Speech and Language
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Consciousness And Thought
What is the most likely diagnosis in a 6-year-old child with speech that is characterized by broken words produced with an excess of physical tension, silent blocking, and sound and syllable repetitions?
Primitive neuroectodermal tumor
Complex partial seizure
Childhood-onset fluency disorder
Tourette's disorder
Transient ischemic attack
Childhood-onset fluency disorder
Childhood-onset fluency disorder is the correct answer. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by disturbances in the normal fluency and time patterning of speech that is inappropriate for the child's age. It can also present with anxiety about speaking. The symptoms of frequent repetitions and other speech dysfluencies presented here characterize this disorder.
Example Question #2 : Consciousness And Thought
Which of the following make up the most likely misarticulated speech sounds in a 10-year-old patient with persistent difficulties in the clear articulation of the individual sounds that combine to make up spoken words?
s, z, and th
h, w, and k
p, b, and m
t, d, and ng
f, y, and g
s, z, and th
The correct answer is "s, z, and th." The presence of speech production difficulties that are outside normal limits and not due to congenital or acquired conditions is pathognomonic for speech sound disorder. Speech sound disorder may occur when children with speech production difficulties have difficulty with phonological knowledge of speech sounds or articulation.
Example Question #1 : Physiology Of Language And The Brain
What area of the brain is most closely correlated with production of speech?
Amygdala
Pons
Corpus callosum
Broca's area
Broca's area
"Broca's area," a small region of the posteriolateral frontal lobe, is responsible for the production of speech. Deficiencies in this area are associated with normal comprehension of words, syntax, and grammar, but an inability to form words for personal expression.
The other choices are incorrect. The "pons" is a part of the brainstem and not involved in language production. The "amygdala" is a part of the limbic system, while the the "corpus callosum" is a wide, flat bundle of neural fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
Example Question #2 : Physiology Of Language And The Brain
An individual comes into a clinic after a minor stroke. His family states that since his stroke he has begun to speak in nonsense. His word choice seems random, with nouns and verbs that are unrelated, and bizarre syntax and grammar. He also does not seem to be able to understand when he is addressed directly. His affect has not changed, nor has his basic motor coordination.
He likely suffered injury to which of the following areas of the brain?
Broca's area
Wernicke's area
Substantia nigra
Cerebellum
Wernicke's area
This individual most likely experienced injury to "Wernicke's area," the part of the brain that is responsible for language comprehension. Damage to this area can result in difficulty understanding speech, and while the ability to produce language may be unaffected, speech is often disordered, non-sensical, or interspersed with inappropriate words or phrases. This is known as Wernicke's aphasia.
The other choices are incorrect. Damage to "Broca's area" would result in impairment with producing words (i.e. getting the words out), with no effect on comprehension. Injury to the "cerebellum" may result in balance or physical coordination issues, while destruction of the "substantia nigra" is typically seen in Parkinson's disease.
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