Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Speech is primarily controlled in the left hemisphere of the brain for most individuals, particularly in areas known as Broca's area and Wernicke's area. Broca's area, located in the frontal lobe, is responsible for the production of speech, including language processing and the formulation of grammatically correct sentences. Wernicke's area, situated in the temporal lobe, is key for language comprehension, allowing individuals to understand spoken and written language.

This lateralization of speech functions to the left hemisphere is observed in approximately 95% of right-handed individuals and a significant majority of left-handed individuals as well. The dominance of the left hemisphere for language has important implications for understanding neurological injuries; damage to these areas can lead to aphasia, which significantly impacts communication. This inherent specialization underscores the critical role of the left hemisphere in speech and language processing.