Effects of syntactic cueing therapy on picture naming and connected speech in acquired aphasia

Abstract

Language therapy for word-finding difficulties in aphasia usually involves picture naming of single words with the support of cues. Most studies have addressed nouns in isolation, even though in connected speech nouns are more frequently produced with determiners. We hypothesized that improved word finding in connected speech would be most likely if intervention treated nouns in usual syntactic contexts. Six speakers with aphasia underwent language therapy using a software program developed for the purpose*, which provided lexical and syntactic (determiner) cues. Exposure to determiners with nouns would potentially lead to improved picture naming of both treated and untreated nouns, and increased production of determiner plus noun combinations in connected speech. After intervention picture naming of treated words improved for five of the six speakers, but naming of untreated words was unchanged. The number of determiner plus noun combinations in connected speech increased for four speakers. These findings attest to the close relationship between frequently co-occurring content and function words, and indicate that intervention for word-finding deficits can profitably proceed beyond single word naming, to retrieval in appropriate syntactic contexts. We also examined the relationship between effects of therapy, and amount and intensity of therapy. We found no relationship between immediate effects and amount or intensity of therapy. However, those participants whose naming maintained at follow-up completed the therapy regime in fewer sessions, of relatively longer duration. We explore the relationship between therapy regime and outcomes, and propose future considerations for research.

Intensive Benenntherapie für Objekt-Verb-Verbindungen: 2 Einzelfallstudien bei chronischer nicht-flüssiger Aphasie

“…Statt des isolierten Trainings von einzelnen Wör-tern kann man Wortarten in der Therapie jedoch auch gezielt miteinander kombinieren. So setzten beispielsweise Herbert, Webster und Dyson [ 7 ] zur Verbesserung des Bildbenennens Nomen mit ihren Determinanten als Stimulusmaterial ein. Mitchum und Berndt [ 8 ] schlagen vor, in der Therapie Nomen und Verben explizit paarweise zu verwenden.…”

“…Die Leistungsverbesserungen scheinen nicht durch eine Verbesserung des sprachlichen und neuropsychologischen Allgemeinzustands hervorgerufen zu sein. Einen ähnli-chen spezifi schen Eff ekt der Benenntherapie konnten auch Herbert und Kollegen [ 7 ] durch die Kontrolle von untrainierten Sprachaufgaben zeigen. Trotzdem kann in der vorliegenden Studie der Eff ekt der parallel stattfi ndenden Standardtherapie auf der Aachener Aphasiestation nicht komplett als Einfl ussfaktor ausgeschlossen werden.…”

Efficacy of a self‐administered treatment using a smart tablet to improve functional vocabulary in post‐stroke aphasia: a case‐series study

“…For example, a significant improvement was found in studies regarding the number of ‘determiner + noun’ combinations (Herbert et al . ), as well as verbal productivity (i.e., number of words/min) and verbal efficiency (i.e., percentage of informative words; Wambaugh and Ferguson ). Some studies also investigated changes occurring in conversation following anomia treatment.…”

“…Some studies addressed this issue by performing a general analysis of descriptive, procedural and/or narrative discourse to investigate changes following anomia treatment. For example, a significant improvement was found in studies regarding the number of 'determiner + noun' combinations (Herbert et al 2012), as well as verbal productivity (i.e., number of words/min) and verbal efficiency (i.e., percentage of informative words; Wambaugh and Ferguson 2007). Some studies also investigated changes occurring in conversation following anomia treatment.…”

Syntactic versus lexical therapy for anomia in acquired aphasia: differential effects on narrative and conversation

“…To address this, Herbert et al . () developed a novel form of intervention based upon theories incorporating lexical syntax. They described an original intervention for word‐finding deficits, termed noun syntax therapy , which they trialled with six participants with aphasia.…”