In fluent aphasia, one common feature observed is an increase in which of the following?

In fluent aphasia, a characteristic feature is often an increase in word retrieval difficulties. Individuals with fluent aphasia may produce speech that is grammatical and has a normal rate but may struggle with finding the right words, leading to paraphasias (substituting words with incorrect alternatives) and nonsensical phrases. This difficulty arises because fluent aphasia typically affects areas of the brain responsible for language processing, particularly those associated with language production rather than comprehension.

While some may continue to demonstrate speech fluency, the ability to pin down specific words when needed often diminishes, making it challenging to follow conversations or express thoughts clearly. This condition stands in contrast to an improvement in word memory performance, as fluent aphasia does not typically correlate with enhanced memory for words. Affected individuals may also experience varying degrees of comprehension deficits and reading difficulties. Therefore, the most commonly observed feature is indeed the increase in difficulty retrieving words, highlighting the distinctions that occur in fluent aphasia.