Dysphasia refers to difficulty with speech caused by brain damage. It can cause problems expressing and comprehending language. Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination that affects movements, speech, eyes, and swallowing. It has several types including cerebellar ataxia from cerebellum damage, sensory ataxia from loss of position sense, and vestibular ataxia involving the inner ear. Causes include vitamin deficiencies, brain lesions, drugs, and mercury exposure. Treatment focuses on physical and occupational therapy, mobility devices, and managing daily challenges.

1. Nervous SystemNervous System
By: Nadia HernandezBy: Nadia Hernandez
Biology 120: Medical TerminologyBiology 120: Medical Terminology

2. DysphasiaDysphasia
• Dys- Painful or DifficultDys- Painful or Difficult
• -phasia -Speech-phasia -Speech
• Dysphasia means difficult speech. It is anDysphasia means difficult speech. It is an
impairment in the production of speechimpairment in the production of speech
and failure to arrange words in anand failure to arrange words in an
understandable way; caused by anunderstandable way; caused by an
acquired lesion of the brain.acquired lesion of the brain.

3. Signs & SymptomsSigns & Symptoms
• Has difficulty gaining meaning from spoken languageHas difficulty gaining meaning from spoken language
• Demonstrates poor written outputDemonstrates poor written output
• Exhibits poor reading comprehensionExhibits poor reading comprehension
• Shows difficulty expressing thoughts in verbal formShows difficulty expressing thoughts in verbal form
• Has difficulty labeling objects or recognizing labelsHas difficulty labeling objects or recognizing labels
• Is often frustrated by having a lot to say and no way toIs often frustrated by having a lot to say and no way to
say itsay it
• Feels that words are “right on the tip of my tongue”Feels that words are “right on the tip of my tongue”
• Can describe an object and draw it, but can’t think of theCan describe an object and draw it, but can’t think of the
word for itword for it
• May be depressed or having feelings of sadnessMay be depressed or having feelings of sadness
• Has difficulty getting jokesHas difficulty getting jokes

4. Treatments & StrategiesTreatments & Strategies
• Speak slowly and clearly and use simple sentences toSpeak slowly and clearly and use simple sentences to
convey informationconvey information
• Refer to a speech pathologistRefer to a speech pathologist
• Allow tape recorder for note takingAllow tape recorder for note taking
• Write main concepts on boardWrite main concepts on board
• Provide support person or peer tutorProvide support person or peer tutor
• Use visualization techniques to enhance listening andUse visualization techniques to enhance listening and
comprehensioncomprehension
• Use of graphic organizers for note taking from lectures orUse of graphic organizers for note taking from lectures or
booksbooks
• Use story starters for creative writing assignmentsUse story starters for creative writing assignments
• Practice story mappingPractice story mapping
• Draw out details with questions and visualizationDraw out details with questions and visualization
strategiesstrategies

5. AtaxiaAtaxia
• A- Without, away fromA- Without, away from
• -taxia -Muscular coordination-taxia -Muscular coordination
• Ataxia means having a lack of muscleAtaxia means having a lack of muscle
coordination as a result of a disorder orcoordination as a result of a disorder or
disease. Ataxia can affect yourdisease. Ataxia can affect your
movements, your speech, your eyemovements, your speech, your eye
movements and your ability to swallow.movements and your ability to swallow.

6. Cerebellar AtaxiaCerebellar Ataxia
• The term cerebellar ataxia is employed toThe term cerebellar ataxia is employed to
indicate ataxia that is due to dysfunction of theindicate ataxia that is due to dysfunction of the
cerebellum. This causes a variety of elementarycerebellum. This causes a variety of elementary
neurological deficits, such as antagonistneurological deficits, such as antagonist
hyptonia, asynergy, dysmetria, dyschronometria,hyptonia, asynergy, dysmetria, dyschronometria,
and dysdiadochokinesia. How and where theseand dysdiadochokinesia. How and where these
abnormalities manifest themselves depends onabnormalities manifest themselves depends on
which cerebellar structures have been damaged,which cerebellar structures have been damaged,
and whether the lesion is bilateral or unilateral.and whether the lesion is bilateral or unilateral.

7. Sensory AtaxiaSensory Ataxia
• The term sensory ataxia is employed to indicate ataxia due to theThe term sensory ataxia is employed to indicate ataxia due to the
loss of sensitivity to the positions of joint and body parts. This isloss of sensitivity to the positions of joint and body parts. This is
generally caused by dysfunction of the dorsal columns of the spinalgenerally caused by dysfunction of the dorsal columns of the spinal
cord, because they carry proprioceptive information up to the brain.cord, because they carry proprioceptive information up to the brain.
In some cases, the cause of sensory ataxia may instead beIn some cases, the cause of sensory ataxia may instead be
dysfunction of the various parts of the brain which receive positionaldysfunction of the various parts of the brain which receive positional
information, including the cerebellum, thalamus, and parietal lobes.information, including the cerebellum, thalamus, and parietal lobes.
• Sensory ataxia presents itself with an unsteady "stomping" gait withSensory ataxia presents itself with an unsteady "stomping" gait with
heavy heel strikes, as well as a postural instability that is usuallyheavy heel strikes, as well as a postural instability that is usually
worsened when the lack of proprioceptive input cannot beworsened when the lack of proprioceptive input cannot be
compensated for by visual input, such as in poorly lit environmentscompensated for by visual input, such as in poorly lit environments..

8. Vestibular AtaxiaVestibular Ataxia
• The term vestibular ataxia is employed to indicate ataxiaThe term vestibular ataxia is employed to indicate ataxia
due to dysfunction of the vestibular system, which indue to dysfunction of the vestibular system, which in
acute and unilateral cases is associated with prominentacute and unilateral cases is associated with prominent
vertigo, nausea and vomiting. In slow-onset, chronicvertigo, nausea and vomiting. In slow-onset, chronic
bilateral cases of vestibular dysfunction, thesebilateral cases of vestibular dysfunction, these
characteristic manifestations may be absent, andcharacteristic manifestations may be absent, and
disequilibrium may be the sole presentation.disequilibrium may be the sole presentation.
• Peripheral neuropathies may cause generalized orPeripheral neuropathies may cause generalized or
localized sensory ataxia (ex. a limb only) depending onlocalized sensory ataxia (ex. a limb only) depending on
the extent of the neuropathic involvement. Spinalthe extent of the neuropathic involvement. Spinal
disorders of various types may cause sensory ataxiadisorders of various types may cause sensory ataxia
from the lesioned level below, when they involve thefrom the lesioned level below, when they involve the
dorsal columns.dorsal columns.

9. Causes & TreatmentCauses & Treatment
• The three types of ataxia have overlapping causes, and thereforeThe three types of ataxia have overlapping causes, and therefore
can either coexist or occur in isolation. Vitamin B12 deficiency, focalcan either coexist or occur in isolation. Vitamin B12 deficiency, focal
lesions to the central nervous system, drugs such as ethanol orlesions to the central nervous system, drugs such as ethanol or
cannabis, high levels of mercury consumption as in fish.cannabis, high levels of mercury consumption as in fish.
• The movement disorders related to ataxia are primarily treated withThe movement disorders related to ataxia are primarily treated with
physical therapy. As ataxia involves a loss of coordinated andphysical therapy. As ataxia involves a loss of coordinated and
efficient action of stabilizing muscles in the trunk, exercise trainingefficient action of stabilizing muscles in the trunk, exercise training
typically includes a focus on stability exercise. There is often antypically includes a focus on stability exercise. There is often an
array of other motor deficits requiring exercise treatment includingarray of other motor deficits requiring exercise treatment including
weakness, balance impairment and decreased endurance. It is alsoweakness, balance impairment and decreased endurance. It is also
possible that treatment will include strategies to manage difficultiespossible that treatment will include strategies to manage difficulties
with everyday activities, such as a cane or walker to decrease thewith everyday activities, such as a cane or walker to decrease the
risk of falls associated with a balance impairment, or prescription ofrisk of falls associated with a balance impairment, or prescription of
a wheelchair.a wheelchair.

10. ReferencesReferences
• Medical Terminology: A Living Language. B. Fremgen,Medical Terminology: A Living Language. B. Fremgen,
S. Frucht. Fourth Ed.S. Frucht. Fourth Ed.
• http://www.ataxia.org/http://www.ataxia.org/ 11.17.1011.17.10
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ataxia/DS00910http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ataxia/DS00910
11.17.1011.17.10