Aphasia rehabilitation: Does generalisation from anomia therapy occur and is it predictable? A case series study

Abstract

A cueing hierarchy can improve word retrieval/production for adults with aphasia. In some cases generalisation to untreated items also occurs. The study demonstrates that the results of behavioural testing can be used to guide predictions of recovery with intervention.

Influence of Cognitive Ability on Therapy Outcomes for Anomia in Adults With Chronic Poststroke Aphasia

“…In a review of 12 the anomia therapy literature, Best et al (2013) found that treatments with a focus on 13 strategy, particularly those that incorporated semantics, were more likely to achieve 14 generalization than treatments that targeted specific representations. If the application of 15 strategy is responsible for generalization, it is hypothesized that executive function would 16 significantly correlate with gains for untreated items.…”

Factors influencing treatment-induced language recovery in chronic, post-stroke aphasia

“…Consequently, the finding of generalisation to untreated items for only a small subset of participants in the present study (post therapy 29%, follow-up 22%) is consistent with previous reports in the literature (Best et al, 2013). Nickels (2002c) and Best et al (2013) suggest that treatments that aim to strengthen connections between word meaning and form often result in clear, long-lasting effects for treated items;…”

“…These treatments provide a structured process to facilitate retrieval of treated items, which can then also be applied to the retrieval of untreated items. Furthermore, Best et al (2013) found that individuals with relatively preserved lexical-semantic processing and more impaired phonological encoding deficits were more likely to demonstrate generalisation to untreated items. In the present study, we found improved naming for untreated items in a small sample of participants.…”

“…However, despite this goal, the evidence for generalisation of anomia therapy to untreated items is limited (Nickels, 2002c). In a review of the anomia literature, Best et al (2013) found that approximately one quarter of individuals with aphasia demonstrated generalisation. Best et al (2013) suggest that anomia treatments with a focus on process, such as SFA and PCA therapy, are more likely to result in generalisation than those treatments targeting representations (e.g., Leonard, Rochon, & Laird, 2008;Lowell, Beeson, & Holland, 1995).…”

“…In a review of the anomia literature, Best et al (2013) found that approximately one quarter of individuals with aphasia demonstrated generalisation. Best et al (2013) suggest that anomia treatments with a focus on process, such as SFA and PCA therapy, are more likely to result in generalisation than those treatments targeting representations (e.g., Leonard, Rochon, & Laird, 2008;Lowell, Beeson, & Holland, 1995). These treatments provide a structured process to facilitate retrieval of treated items, which can then also be applied to the retrieval of untreated items.…”