[Persistent aphasia as the most conspicuous phenomenon of extensive disconnection of the cortical speech region].

An unusual case is analysed in which global aphasia has obtained for ten years, with complete speech inability and loss of the acoustic understanding of words, due to extensive cortical lesions in both halves of the cerebrum. After two years of observation of the case and frequent neuropsychological examination, the cause is seen as being in the almost complete elimination of the cortical region of speech. The manifestation occurred when the patient was nine years old, and intensive efforts at pedagogic rehabilitation, on which a separate report will be made, were begun eight years later.