Comprehensive Approach to Speech and Language Assessment in Recurrent Meningioma: A Case Study

Meningioma is a tumor that arises from the meninges - the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It compresses the adjacent brain tissues, nerves and vessels, leading to changes in vision, loss of smell, headaches, hearing loss or ringing in the ears, memory loss, seizure and most importantly communication difficulty. It affects mainly the elderly above the age of 60, at a female: male ratio of 3:2. Recurrence and progression are well known and are frequent characteristics of meningiomas. The present study aimed to perform a comprehensive approach to speech and language assessment in a case with recurrent meningioma. A case reported following postsurgical recurrent meningioma in the left parietal temporal area, exhibiting symptoms of language, speech and swallowing difficulty associated with a weakness in the left upper and lower limb. The evaluation process from a speech and language perspective involved perceptual and instrumental assessment of cognition, communication and swallowing using tests and tools. The case was found to have comorbid disorders of nonfluent aphasia associated with neuro cognitive deficit, mild dysphagia, mild dementia and dysarthria of speech. Though the presence of language and speech disorders in case of recurrent meningioma is not common, the severity of the disorder may lead to severe communication deficit. Assessing and interpreting an individual's communication ability involves the integration of a variety of information collected in the evaluation process. Keywords: Recurrent meningioma, dysphagia, aphasia, dysarthria