What is global aphasia characterized by?

Global aphasia is characterized by a significant impairment in both the expressive and receptive aspects of language. This condition typically arises from extensive damage to the language centers of the brain, particularly in cases of stroke or brain injury affecting Broca's area (which governs speech production) and Wernicke's area (which governs language comprehension).

Individuals with global aphasia struggle to express themselves verbally and may also have great difficulty understanding spoken or written language. This dual impairment makes it challenging for them to communicate effectively, as they often cannot form meaningful speech and also fail to grasp the language of others. Therefore, the condition encapsulates both the inability to convey language and the inability to comprehend it, explaining why the correct answer accurately describes global aphasia.

The other options reflect more specific types of language dysfunctions. For instance, the inability to speak exclusively points to a different condition known as expressive aphasia, while the capacity to repeat phrases without understanding suggests a condition like transcortical aphasia. Communication through gestures only may be seen in various forms of aphasia but does not define global aphasia specifically.