Aphasia is a disorder that primarily affects which ability?

• A. Memory encoding
• B. Understanding or producing language
• C. Visual perception
• D. Motor coordination

Answer: (B)

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by brain injury that disrupts the ability to understand or express language. It stems from damage to language-dominant areas of the brain, often in the left hemisphere, affecting how words are understood and how they are formed and spoken. Because of this, the core deficit is in language processing—understanding spoken or written language and/or producing language, including speaking and naming.

Memory encoding relates to forming new memories, which is a different cognitive function. Visual perception involves processing visual information, and motor coordination concerns movement and balance. While speech production can involve motor skills, aphasia itself centers on language—so understanding or producing language is the primary ability impacted.