Non-verbal disturbances in crossed aphasia

Aphasia is generally accompanied by signs of non-verbal dysfunction. The study of crossed aphasia can help to clarify the relationship between the two orders of phenomena. Four personal cases are reported and the relevant literature is reviewed concerning disorders of non-verbal function which accompany crossed aphasia. Left-sided neglect and constructional apraxia are common findings. Limb apraxia is a rarity among the cases reported, but bucco-facial apraxia is as frequent as in left hemisphere lesioned aphasics. In the light of these observations, the role of each hemisphere for verbal and non-verbal behaviour is reconsidered.