Laborious, halting, telegraphic utterances are typical of which type of aphasia?

• A. Conduction
• B. Anomic
• C. Wernicke
• D. Transcortical motor

Answer: (D)

Laborious, halting, telegraphic speech is a hallmark of a nonfluent form of aphasia. In transcortical motor aphasia, speech tends to be short and effortful, with missing function words, giving that telegraphic feel. Yet understanding spoken language is relatively preserved, and importantly, the ability to repeat speech remains intact. This preservation of repetition helps set it apart from other nonfluent aphasias like Broca’s, where repetition is typically impaired. The pattern—nonfluent, telegraphic output with preserved comprehension and repetition—best fits transcortical motor aphasia.