Following anoxic encephalopathy, which area is typically most affected in the long term?

• A. Memory
• B. Prosody
• C. Resonance
• D. Aphonia

Answer: (A)

Anoxic brain injury most strongly damages the hippocampus, which is crucial for forming and consolidating new memories. When this area is injured by lack of oxygen, people typically develop long-term memory problems, especially trouble creating new memories (anterograde amnesia) and often difficulties with recent events. Other communication-related functions like prosody (intonation), resonance (nasality), or even sustained voice (aphonia) aren’t the primary long-term deficits you’d expect from this type of injury, though they can be affected depending on the broader pattern of damage. So memory impairment is the most characteristic, lasting consequence after anoxic encephalopathy.