What is an expected finding when assessing a client who has had a left-hemisphere stroke?

In the context of a left-hemisphere stroke, expressive aphasia is indeed an expected finding. The left hemisphere of the brain is primarily responsible for language processing in most individuals, particularly in right-handed people and a significant portion of left-handed individuals as well. A stroke affecting this area can lead to difficulties in speaking and forming language, known as expressive aphasia. This condition may manifest as the inability to produce coherent speech or difficulty in finding words, even though the person may comprehend language fairly well.

The other choices, while they might be associated with different neurological deficits, do not typically arise from a left-hemisphere stroke. Impaired proprioception and the inability to recognize familiar faces are often related to strokes affecting other areas, such as the parietal lobe or the right hemisphere, respectively. Difficulty sensing temperature tends to be linked to conditions affecting the sensory pathways rather than directly to left-hemisphere strokes. Therefore, expressive aphasia is the characteristic finding that aligns with a left-hemisphere injury, highlighting its role in governing language and communication functions.