The stimulus for writing this book arose from the author's perception of
a lack of available texts which adequately integrate the subjects of
neuroanatomy and functional neurology with the practice of speech-
language pathology. This perception was gained from almost two decades
of teaching in the areas of neuroanatomy and acquired neuro- logical
speech-language disorders to speech pathology students initially at the
South Australian College of Advanced Education and, for the past five
years, at the University of Queensland. Although a plethora of excellent
texts devoted specifically to each of the subjects of neuroanatomy,
neurology and aphasiology have been published, few have attemped to
integrate these individual subject areas in such a way as to provide a
more clear understanding of the neurological bases of clinically
recognized forms of aphasia and motor speech disorders. In writing this
text, I have attempted to provide a better balance between
neuroanatomy-neurology and. speech-language pathology. Relevant areas of
neuroanatomy and neurology are introduced and discussed in the context
of specific speech and language disorders. In this way, I have aimed at
providing a better link between the relevant neuroanatomical and
neurological knowledge on the one hand, and specific neurologically
based communication disorders on the other, in order to enhance the
reader's understanding of the origins, course and prognosis of these
disorders. Of course the writing of any book requires the support and
encouragement of other people. This text was no exception.
