Expressive aphasia is primarily associated with which of the following symptoms?

Expressive aphasia is primarily characterized by the inability to express thoughts verbally. This condition often occurs due to damage in the Broca's area of the brain, which is responsible for language production. Individuals with expressive aphasia may understand language and know what they want to say, but struggle to form the words or sentences needed to convey their thoughts effectively. This difficulty can manifest as halting speech, omission of small words, and frustration with communication.

The other options relate to different aspects of communication or physical capabilities. For example, difficulty in understanding written text is more associated with receptive aphasia, which involves challenges in processing language rather than expressing it. Loss of emotional control doesn't directly correlate with expressive aphasia; instead, it might involve other neurological or psychological conditions. Problems with swallowing, also known as dysphagia, do not stem from language processing issues and relate more to physical difficulties in the ingestive functions than to language expression. Therefore, focusing on the inability to express thoughts verbally accurately highlights the primary symptom of expressive aphasia.