Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Exam

What term is used to describe a stroke patient's difficulty with language?

1. The patient or resident

2. aphasia

3. Competitiveness

4. Hemiplegia

The correct answer is: aphasia

The correct term for a stroke patient's difficulty with language is aphasia. This condition occurs when there is damage to the parts of the brain responsible for language processing, which can impact a person's ability to speak, understand, read, or write. Aphasia can vary in severity and can present as challenges in forming coherent sentences or comprehending language. Other terms listed do not pertain to language difficulties. For instance, a stroke patient or resident simply refers to the individual receiving care and does not specify the nature of their condition. Competitiveness focuses on behavioral traits rather than a medical condition, and hemiplegia refers to paralysis that affects one side of the body, which can occur as a result of a stroke but does not directly relate to language capabilities. Therefore, aphasia accurately describes the specific language challenges faced by stroke patients.