Which type of paraphasia involves substituting a word with one that is semantically related?

The selection of the answer regarding the type of paraphasia characterized by substituting a word with one that is semantically related aligns well with established knowledge in the field of speech-language pathology. This phenomenon, termed semantic or lexical paraphasia, occurs when an individual mistakenly uses a word that has a meaning similar to the intended word.

For instance, if someone intends to say "dog" but says "cat" instead, they are exhibiting semantic/lexical paraphasia. This type of error reflects a disruption in the language processing areas of the brain responsible for conceptual associations related to words, often seen in conditions like Wernicke's aphasia. The individual's understanding of word meanings remains relatively intact, but the retrieval of specific words is impaired, leading to the substitution of related terms.

Understanding this mechanism is vital for recognizing the communication challenges faced by individuals with aphasia and developing targeted therapy strategies to help them improve their language skills.