Global aphasia primarily affects what two aspects?

Global aphasia is a severe form of aphasia characterized by significant impairments in both expressive and receptive language abilities. This condition typically results from extensive damage to the language-dominant hemisphere of the brain, often due to a stroke or traumatic injury.

The correct answer highlights that global aphasia primarily impacts the ability to use words effectively (expressive language) and understand spoken or written communication (receptive language). Individuals with global aphasia may struggle to form coherent sentences and may have difficulty comprehending what others are saying, which affects their ability to communicate in everyday situations.

While writing and spelling, reading and listening, and speaking and memory may be aspects of communication and cognition, they do not encompass the broad and severe deficits observed in individuals with global aphasia as effectively as the combination of using words and understanding others. Therefore, the primary features of global aphasia lie in the profound challenge faced by individuals to express themselves and to understand language, making the choice focusing on these aspects the most accurate.