Aphasiology: Disorders and Clinical Practice offers perhaps the only balanced and comprehensive presentation of theoretical study and clinical practice of aphasiology. Modern psycholinguistics and cognitive neuropsychology are employed for developing student understanding of diagnosis. Right hemisphere dysfunctions and closed head injuries are reviewed as well as aphasia caused by stroke. Current trends in managed care, functional therapy, and theory-driven treatments are reflected in the presentation of rehabilitation.
Structured according to a typical course outline, the book begins with etiology and moves quickly to clinical assessment. It teaches diagnostic thinking with respect to the relationships between symptoms and hidden impairments in cognitive terms. Through this approach, a future clinician should acquire an appreciation for the scientific investigation that supports a clinical discipline.
The book's accessible writing style minimizes the intrusion of referencing. The emphasis is on explanation and illustration, rather than on a fastidious inclusion of every study. Tables are used to summarize essential points and to provide historical overviews, while many instructional points are viewed throughout the book — including a case study about the story of Martin Exeter and his family, which begins and concludes the book.