Adeline's mother suffered a stroke. Since then, she sometimes says strange things such as, "I need to go to the store to buy some canaries," when she means to say that she needs groceries. Adeline's mother seems to be suffering from

• A. nonspecific aphasia.
• B. language degenerative disease.
• C. Broca's aphasia.
• D. Wernicke's aphasia.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the concept of aphasia, which is a condition affecting speech and language abilities due to brain damage.
2. Recognize that Wernicke's aphasia is characterized by fluent speech with little meaning, often including nonsensical words or phrases, and difficulty in understanding language.
3. Identify the symptoms described in the problem: Adeline's mother says strange things that are unrelated to her intended meaning, indicating a disconnect between thought and speech.
4. Compare these symptoms with the characteristics of Wernicke's aphasia, which involves fluent but nonsensical speech and impaired comprehension.
5. Conclude that the symptoms match Wernicke's aphasia, as it involves speaking fluently but with incorrect or nonsensical words, aligning with Adeline's mother's behavior.