What characterizes Wernicke's aphasia?

Wernicke's aphasia is primarily characterized by impaired comprehension of language. Individuals with this condition typically have fluent speech that may have a normal rate and rhythm, but the content often lacks meaning, making it difficult for them to understand spoken or written language. This disruption in understanding extends to both the ability to follow conversations and comprehend instructions.

While their speech may be grammatically correct and sound fluent, the words and phrases may not convey any actual sense, demonstrating a disconnect between the production of language and its meaning. This is in stark contrast to other types of aphasia, where speech production or articulation may be significantly impacted, or where comprehension might be preserved to differing degrees.

In summary, the hallmark of Wernicke's aphasia is the significant challenge in understanding language, which differentiates it from other speech and language disorders.