agraphia
Pronunciation: ah-GRAF-ee-ah
Acquired inability to write or express thoughts in written form, typically resulting from left hemisphere brain damage.
Full Definition
Agraphia refers to the loss or impairment of writing ability following neurological damage, most commonly involving the left hemisphere language areas. This condition can occur independently or alongside aphasia, presenting as difficulties with letter formation, spelling, written syntax, or narrative organization. Different types include phonological agraphia (difficulty with unfamiliar words), surface agraphia (problems with irregular spellings), and deep agraphia (semantic errors in writing). Rehabilitation assessment must distinguish writing problems due to motor deficits from true linguistic agraphia. Treatment approaches include copying exercises, dictation training, and functional writing tasks tailored to the specific agraphia type and patient needs.
Usage
Usage note: Specify subtype when known (phonological, surface, deep) for precise treatment planning.
In Context
- "The patient's agraphia significantly impacted her ability to complete written portions of cognitive assessments." — Speech-language pathology evaluation
- "Treatment planning addressed both the patient's aphasia and co-occurring agraphia through integrated language interventions." — Rehabilitation team meeting notes