Written Language Production in Aphasia: Agraphia Assessment
Presented by Brett McCardel
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This course presents a comprehensive framework for assessing agraphia in individuals with aphasia, emphasizing how acquired impairments in written language can affect communication, independence, and quality of life. Participants will learn to apply a cognitive neuropsychological model of writing to identify specific subtypes of agraphia and plan targeted, person-centered assessments at the single-word, sentence, and discourse levels. The course also explores the importance of distinguishing between language- and motor-based writing impairments and discusses collaboration with occupational therapy when appropriate. With integration of the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia, clinicians will be equipped to align assessment strategies with each client’s real-world needs and goals. This course is relevant for speech-language pathologists working across clinical settings, particularly those involved in adult neurorehabilitation.
Learning Objectives
- Examine agraphia and how acquired written language impairments can impact the quality of life for people with aphasia
- Analyze how impairments in specific components of a cognitive neuropsychological model of written language may impact writing and spelling abilities
- Plan for an agraphia assessment that examines written language abilities at the single-word, sentence, and paragraph/discourse levels
- Integrate agraphia assessment approaches utilizing the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia framework
Meet your instructor
Brett McCardel
Brett McCardel is the owner and founder of Archways—Aphasia Rehabilitation Services, a private practice that specializes in providing speech and language services to people with aphasia. He has worked with people with aphasia across the continuum of care and across a variety of service-delivery models (including telehealth…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Introduction to Agraphia
The first chapter of this course defines agraphia, outlines its neurological underpinnings, and distinguishes between central and peripheral subtypes based on the cognitive and motor processes involved in writing.
2. A Cognitive Neuropsychological Model of Written Language Production
This chapter describes impairments in the linguistic processes of spelling and word retrieval, including phonological, lexical, semantic, and syntactic errors characteristic of central agraphia subtypes.
3. Agraphia Subtypes
This chapter explains impairments in motor programming, execution, and visuospatial aspects of writing, such as apraxic, spatial, and allographic agraphia.
4. Agraphia Assessment at the Single-Word Level
This chapter details structured and informal methods for evaluating agraphia, focusing on spelling, syntax, discourse, and functional writing skills.
5. Agraphia Assessment at the Sentence and Paragraph/Discourse Levels
This chapter reviews widely used formal tools for diagnosing and quantifying agraphia, including their purposes, strengths, and limitations.
6. Agraphia Assessment Utilizing a Life Participation Approach to Aphasia
The final chapter of this course presents flexible, clinician-designed strategies for assessing real-world writing abilities, personalized to client needs and contexts.
