Primary Progressive Aphasia: Comparing Two Case Studies

Abstract

The present study was carried out with the aim of profiling symptoms of two clients with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). The first client was a 77-year-old female while the second client was a 69-year-old female. Both the clients experienced atrophy in different regions of the brain. The onset of the problem was more sudden in the second client as compared to the first client. The first client experienced more speech problems (effortful speech) and the profile resembled that of Broca’s aphasia. Therapy aimed at restoring and strengthening the other modes of communication. The second client, on the other hand, experienced more word retrieval deficits in the initial phase. The problem increased rapidly with time and also invaded the cognitive domain, unlike the first client. The diagnostic label of PPA+ matched the profile of the second client. The aim of therapy for both the clients was to strengthen the alternative modes of communication.