In the context of diagnosing psychological disorders, which term refers to the loss of ability to speak, write, and/or comprehend the written or spoken word?

• A. Apraxia
• B. Agnosia
• C. Dysarthria
• D. Aphasia

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the question is asking for a term that describes the loss of ability to speak, write, and/or comprehend language, which is related to communication impairments.
2. Review the definitions of each option: Apraxia refers to difficulty with motor planning for speech, Agnosia is the inability to recognize objects or stimuli, Dysarthria involves problems with the physical production of speech due to muscle weakness, and Aphasia is the impairment of language abilities including speaking, writing, and comprehension.
3. Identify that Aphasia specifically involves the loss or impairment of language functions, which matches the description in the question.
4. Confirm that the other options do not fully encompass the loss of both expressive and receptive language abilities as Aphasia does.
5. Conclude that the correct term for the loss of ability to speak, write, and/or comprehend language is Aphasia.