What does conduction aphasia affect?

Conduction aphasia primarily affects the ability to connect listening and speaking, which is precisely what makes choice C the correct answer. This type of aphasia arises from damage to the arcuate fasciculus, a bundle of nerve fibers that connects Broca's area (involved in speech production) and Wernicke's area (involved in language comprehension). Individuals with conduction aphasia often have relatively preserved comprehension and fluent speech, but they face significant challenges in repeating what they hear or linking their spoken output accurately with their thoughts.

While understanding spoken language is typically preserved, individuals may struggle with paraphasias—errors in speech—when attempting to communicate. Moreover, written language production can also be affected, but the hallmark characteristic of conduction aphasia is indeed the impaired ability to repeat phrases and connect auditory comprehension with verbal expression. Non-verbal communication comprehension is less directly related to conduction aphasia, making it an incorrect choice as well. Thus, the defining feature lies in the connection between listening and speaking, which is impacted by the neurological pathways involved.