Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

A picture communication board would be most helpful for a patient with which condition?

1. Receptive aphasia

2. Expressive aphasia

3. Global aphasia

4. Dysarthria

The correct answer is: Expressive aphasia

A picture communication board is particularly useful for a patient with expressive aphasia because it serves as a visual aid to assist in communication when verbal expression is significantly hindered. In expressive aphasia, a person may have difficulty finding words and formulating sentences, but their ability to understand language is typically much more intact. The use of a communication board allows the individual to point to images or symbols that represent words or phrases, thereby facilitating their ability to convey thoughts, needs, and ideas without relying solely on speech. While receptive aphasia involves difficulty in understanding language, a communication board would not directly improve comprehension, making it less beneficial in that context. In the case of global aphasia, where both understanding and expressing language are severely impaired, a picture communication board may also have limited efficacy as the individual may struggle with both skills. Dysarthria involves physical difficulties in articulating words due to motor control issues, where a communication board may also help, but the primary challenge does not stem from an inability to express ideas conceptually. Therefore, the strongest alignment for benefit with a picture communication board is with expressive aphasia.