Showing papers in "Aphasiology in 2006"
TL;DR: Older people with chronic aphasia had significantly fewer social contacts and social activities than their peers, and speech and language therapists may direct their rehabilitation efforts towards two areas: (1) conversational partner programmes training friends to maintain these relationships; and (2) encouraging and supporting aphasic clients in leisure activities of their choice.
Abstract: Background: Developing the knowledge base on the impact of aphasia on people's social lives has become increasingly important in recent times to further our understanding of the broad consequences of communication disability and thus provide appropriate services. Past research clearly indicates that relationships and social activities with family members and others undergo change with the onset of aphasia in an individual, however more evidence of a quantitative nature would be beneficial. Aims: The current research furthers our knowledge by quantifying chronically aphasic older people's regular social contacts and social activities, and places them in context by comparing them with healthy older people of similar age and education. Methods & Procedures: A total of 30 aphasic participants aged 57 to 88 years, and 71 non‐aphasic controls aged 62 to 98 years were interviewed by a speech and language therapist using self‐report measures of Social Network Analysis (Antonucci & Akiyama, 1987) and Social Activi...
161 citations
TL;DR: The relationship between social support and quality of life was examined, exploring which aspects of social support (social network versus perceived social support) were most associated with health-relatedquality of life (HRQL).
Abstract: Background & Aims : Stroke and aphasia can have a profound impact on people's social activities, and family and social relationships. This study looked at patterns of social support in people with chronic aphasia following stroke. It examined the relationship between social support and quality of life, exploring which aspects of social support (social network versus perceived social support) were most associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL). Methods & Procedures : A cross-sectional interview-based survey study was conducted. A cluster-sampling framework was used to recruit participants with chronic aphasia following stroke (> 1 year) from three different sites in the south-east of England. Measures included the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 item version (SAQOL-39), the MOS Social Support Survey (SSS), and a social network questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlation, t -tests, and ANOVAs were used as appropriate. Outcomes & Results : The results of those able to self-r...
157 citations
TL;DR: AOS can be the first and most prominent manifestation of neurodegenerative disease, and often co‐occurs with aphasia and/or dysarthria, but it can also be the only speech‐language disorder.
Abstract: Background: Only a limited number of case reports or case series have provided unequivocal evidence that apraxia of speech (AOS) can be the first or predominant sign of neurodegenerative disease. This may reflect a very low frequency of occurrence but may also reflect a failure in many studies to identify AOS or distinguish it from the diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). The distinction may be important to clinical neurological localisation and diagnosis, prognosis, management, and histopathology. The author thanks Jack Thomas MS and Keith Josephs MD for their helpful comments on earlier versions of this paper. Aims: To describe the demographic characteristics, presenting complaints, perceptual attributes, associated speech‐language and related clinical findings, neuroimaging findings, and clinical neurological diagnoses for a large group of patients with AOS due to degenerative neurologic disease. Methods & Procedures: Retrospective review of patients seen between 1985 and 2004, who had AOS t...
122 citations
TL;DR: The notion that an intact RH supports use of some types of formulaic language is supported, as well as the identification of relatively preserved formulaic expressions in LH damage, to provide a basis for a more effective treatment plan.
Abstract: Background: The preservation of swearing, serial speech, and speech formulas is well documented in clinical descriptions of aphasia. Proper nouns and sentence stems have also been reported in the residual speech of severely aphasic subjects. The incidence of formulaic expressions in spontaneous speech of right‐hemisphere‐damaged subjects has not yet been well examined. Recent interest in formulaic expressions (FEs) in normal language use, combined with the converging evidence of a role for the right hemisphere in processing pragmatic elements of language, led to this study. Methods & Procedures: We undertook an examination of hypotheses about the hemispheric processing of FEs in the spontaneous speech of persons with left hemisphere (LH) and right hemisphere (RH) damage. Based on preserved use of formulaic expressions in clinically described aphasic speech, the hypothesis under examination in this study was that the intact RH has a role in the production of formulaic expressions. Further inquiries involve...
103 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated whether a combination of information from these sources can provide a coherent account of how word retrieval is breaking down in people with aphasia, and found that each of these sources of evidence provides information compatible with more than level of breakdown.
Abstract: Background: Identifying the point of breakdown in people with aphasia with disorders of word retrieval is not straightforward Evidence has been sought from: (i) the nature of the errors in naming; (ii) the variables affecting naming accuracy; (iii) the effects of correct and misleading cues; (iv) performance in other word comprehension and production tasks However, previous research has demonstrated that each of these sources of evidence provides information compatible with more than level of breakdown Aims: The study investigates whether a combination of information from these sources can provide a coherent account of how word retrieval is breaking down in people with aphasia Methods & Procedures: Three people with aphasia (JGr, LM, and KS) took part in four experiments The first investigated the errors made in picture naming and the factors (target word length, imageability, frequency …) affecting naming accuracy The second experiment investigated the effects of correct phonemic cues and miscues o
93 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the experience of aphasia within the context of communication, life participation and psychological well-being and evaluated the outcomes of these phenomena in people with chronic aphasias following participation in a group intervention involving a...
Abstract: Background: The impact of change in communication, life participation, and psychological well‐being in aphasia is recognised but still not fully explored. Further, considerable scope exists to address these factors within the context of intervention. Innovative practices and group intervention are advocated for people with chronic aphasia but detail and evidence remains limited. We are grateful to Leeds Health Authority, the Leeds Speech and Language Therapy Service, Leeds Social Services, Leeds Metropolitan University and the Leeds Modernisation Team ‐ Disability for funding and other resources for the group and the research. Our thanks in particular are conveyed to the group participants. Additionally we thank the reviewers for their guidance. Aims: To explore the experience of aphasia within the context of communication, life participation and psychological well‐being and evaluate the outcomes of these phenomena in people with chronic aphasia following participation in a group intervention involving a ...
89 citations
TL;DR: There is a need for more information on both participants and partner of the person with aphasia, to be both established and documented when reporting the impact of this type of intervention, and systematic follow-up of all those participating in training will enable a clearer picture to emerge of the effectiveness of such interventions.
Abstract: Background: Conversational training programmes are increasingly being reported for partners of people with aphasia. While these all aim to increase communicative effectiveness between people with aphasia and their communication partners, and all report measurable success, the programmes vary in terms of selection criteria for participants, the methods used, and the way in which they have been evaluated. This paper critically reviews a group of studies that have carried out conversation partner training (CPT) programmes for both familiar partners of people with aphasia (spouse or relative of a person with aphasia) and volunteers. We wish to acknowledge Janet Webster for her comments on earlier drafts.SCA is a registered trademark. Aims: The purpose of the review is (1) to identify the type of people CPT might benefit, i.e., whether particular characteristics of the participants have been considered influential to the outcome of interventions and (2) to consider the outcomes of such training programmes more...
86 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the nexus between the ability to interpret facial expression and communication competence for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and found that facial expression is generally understood as playing a crucial role in communication, conveying both information and emotion.
Abstract: Background: Facial expression is generally understood as playing a crucial role in communication, conveying both information and emotion. This study explored the nexus between the ability to interpret facial expression and communication competence for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The authors would like to thank the men and women who so generously participated in this research. We are also indebted to the staff in the Speech Pathology department at Epworth Hospital for their assistance in recruiting participants. Aims: Three research questions were addressed. The first two questions involved a comparison of TBI and control participants on perceived communication competence, and ability to interpret facial expression. The third research question addressed whether a relationship exists between ability to interpret facial expression and perceived communication competence, in individuals with TBI. Methods & Procedures: Participants included 12 individuals with severe TBI (PTA>7 days), and a g...
83 citations
TL;DR: A measure of cognitive flexibility was developed and a significant relationship between the cognitive flexibility score and strategy usage on a functional communication task was demonstrated, suggesting that cognitive flexibility is a stronger predictor of strategy usage than severity of aphasia.
Abstract: It was hypothesized that cognitive flexibility may influence aphasic individuals’ ability to generalize techniques learned in therapy to more functional communication situations. A cognitive flexibility score was created by examination of modality switching behavior on the CADL and on a referential communication task, following multimodality training. A multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between the CADL cognitive flexibility score and the referential communication task, but the contribution of the PICA was not significant. These results suggest the cognitive flexibility score is independent of language function and may help predict whether patients would benefit from specific strategy training.
79 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the relationship between discourse-level and sentence-level phenomena through the verb in clinical picture elicitations of discourse and found that the nature of the pictures or the accompanying elicitation instructions may influence the discourse genre of the response (descriptive vs narrative), which in turn may place different linguistic demands (e.g., verb production demands) on the speaker with aphasia.
Abstract: Background: Discourse coherence is derived, in part, from the relationship between and among words and sentences. In studies of aphasia, the relationship between discourse‐level and sentence‐level phenomena may be examined through the verb. In clinical picture elicitations of discourse, the nature of the pictures or the accompanying elicitation instructions may influence the discourse genre of the response (descriptive vs narrative), which in turn may place different linguistic demands (e.g., verb production demands) on the speaker with aphasia. This study is part of a larger project supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, grant number 1 R03 DC005151, and the Callier Center for Communication Disorders at the University of Texas at Dallas. My sincere thanks to the dedicated participant volunteers and to the organisations that have referred participants to date: Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation; Callier (Dallas) Aphasia Group; Community Partners Program (a colla...
74 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined how Marshall's conjecture has fared over the past 20 years, by examining evidence for developmental analogues of acquired surface and phonological dyslexia, and by assessing the success of dual route versus connectionist accounts of these subtypes.
Abstract: Background: In 1984, John Marshall made the case that one can use a model of the skilled reading system not only to interpret the acquired dyslexias, but also to interpret the developmental dyslexias, and the particular model of the skilled reading system he favoured for this purpose was the dual-route model. This claim has been a controversial one, with many researchers claiming that static models of adult skilled reading, such as the dual-route model, are inappropriate for understanding the process of reading development and, consequently, the developmental reading disorders. Aims: In this paper, we examine how Marshall's conjecture has fared over the past 20 years. Main Contribution: We evaluate Marshall's conjecture by examining evidence for developmental analogues of acquired surface and phonological dyslexia, by reporting new data on cases of “pure” developmental surface and phonological dyslexia, and by assessing the success of dual route versus connectionist accounts of these subtypes. We also rep...
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of semantic comprehension training for word retrieval in individuals with aphasia were investigated. But, the authors did not examine the effect of the treatment schedule on word retrieval and comprehension treatment gains.
Abstract: Background: Semantic comprehension training paired with verbal production leads to improved word retrieval in individuals with aphasia. Few studies have also examined effects of such training for word comprehension. MossTalk Words includes a training module to provide semantic comprehension training via computerised exercises. Variations in the treatment schedule may influence the impact of word retrieval and comprehension treatment gains. We extend our appreciation to our five participants and to Ruth Fink of the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, who generously provided a copy of MossTalk Words for this study. This project was supported by NIH (NIDCD) grant P50 DC03888‐01A1 to the University of Florida (subcontract to Old Dominion University), and by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research & Development Center of Excellence Grant F2182C to the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Gainesville, Florida. Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Multi‐Mode Matchi...
TL;DR: This paper provided a concise summary of the relevant theoretical research and perspectives on verbs, and from this theoretical foundation explored which aspects have been incorporated and tested in therapy studies for aphasic verb impairments.
Abstract: Background: This review is intended for both theoretically and clinically motivated audiences with an interest in aphasic verb impairments. This work is supported by a Research Bursary from the Stroke Association (TSAB 2004/01). Aims: Building from previous reviews, our aim is to provide a concise summary of the relevant theoretical research and perspectives on verbs, and from this theoretical foundation to explore which aspects have been incorporated and tested in therapy studies. Main Contribution: In the theoretical domain, the review first considers the patterns of verb and noun impairments in aphasic syndromes. Second, an overview of the linguistic differences between verbs and nouns is provided, differences that occur at various levels of linguistic analysis: phonological, morphological, semantic, and syntactic. This is followed by a detailed account of the psycholinguistic perspective on verb–noun differences. Specifically, this section examines the role of variables such as imageability and freque...
TL;DR: This paper showed that subject-verb agreement is relatively intact while tense is severely impaired in aphasic non-fluent speech, and that the deficits are structural and attribute errors to a breakdown of functional categories and their projections.
Abstract: Background: Verbal inflectional errors are among the most prominent characteristics of aphasic nonfluent speech. Several studies have shown that such impairment is selective: subject–verb agreement is relatively intact while tense is severely impaired. A number of researchers view the deficit as structural and attribute errors to a breakdown of functional categories and their projections. Agrammatic individuals are thought to produce trees that are intact up to the Tense node and “pruned” from this node up. A partial preliminary report of the data was presented at the “Science of Aphasia V” conference in Potsdam in 16–21 September 2004. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Departmental Seminars of the Department of Language and Communication Science at City University (February 2005) and appeared at the Reading Working Papers in Linguistics 6 (2005). We thank two anonymous reviewers for comments on an earlier version of this paper as well as the two reviewers of Aphasiology for their usef...
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of gesture+verbal and semantic-phonologic treatments on verb retrieval in patients with chronic aphasia were investigated, with four individuals, three men and one woman, reporting treatment results for four individuals.
Abstract: Background: Reports have indicated that gesture+verbal treatments and semantic‐phonologic treatments are effective for improving lexical retrieval in aphasia. Most studies focus on noun production, with verb production less commonly reported. Because of links between verbs and gesture knowledge, verbs may be particularly amenable to gesture+verbal training. We extend our appreciation to our four participants who diligently completed this study. This project was supported by NIH (NIDCD) grant P50 DC03888‐01A1 to the University of Florida (subcontract to Old Dominion University), and by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research & Development Center of Excellence Grant F2182C to the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Gainesville, Florida. Aims: The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of gesture+verbal and semantic‐phonologic treatments on verb retrieval in patients with chronic aphasia. Methods & Procedures: We report treatment results for four individuals, three men and one...
TL;DR: These results are consistent with a role of posterior inferior frontal cortex and insula in motor speech and naming actions, as well as the essential role of anterior temporal lobes in semantic representation of objects.
Abstract: Background: Various clinical types of primary progressive aphasia have been associated with distinct areas of atrophy and pathological changes. Therefore, differences in the patterns of language deterioration in the various types might reveal the types of language processes and representations that depend on the areas of brain that are disproportionately affected. Aims: To test the hypotheses (1) that individuals with progressive nonfluent aphasia (associated with left posterior, inferior frontal, and insular atrophy) show progressive motor speech impairment and disproportionate deterioration in naming actions relative to objects, and (2) that individuals with semantic dementia (associated with anterior and inferior temporal atrophy) show disproportionate deterioration in semantic representations of objects relative to actions. Methods & Procedures: The study population consisted of 56 participants with primary progressive aphasia, including 27 with progressive nonfluent aphasia, 16 with semantic dementia...
TL;DR: Results showed that overprotection reported by spouses was positively associated with “speaking for” behaviours produced by spouses, and aphasia severity and motor disability were also associated to minor participation of persons with aphasic in conversation.
Abstract: Background: Spouses play a major role in adaptation following the onset of their partner's aphasia. Sometimes, overprotection can occur in the relationship and this may be a disadvantage in adapting to aphasia. Overprotection from spouses can manifest itself in conversation when the spouse “speaks for” the person with aphasia and this could affect his or her participation in conversation. This research was supported by a grant from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The participants are gratefully acknowledged. We would like to also thank the speech‐language pathologists and the associations of people with aphasia who referred us many participants. Aim: The aim of the present research was to study the phenomenon of overprotection, “speaking for” behaviours in conversation as well as the person with aphasia's participation in conversation. Methods & Procedures: A total of 18 couples, each including one person with aphasia, participated in this study. The perceptions of overprotectio...
TL;DR: In this article, the conditions under which gestural knowledge associated with manipulable objects is evoked were examined, and a priming paradigm was used in which an object was presented in advance of a photograph of a hand gesture that participants were to mimic.
Abstract: Background: Theories of embodied knowledge argue that the representation and recruitment of motor processes may be important for deriving the meaning of many linguistic and perceptual elements. Aims: We examined the conditions under which gestural knowledge associated with manipulable objects is evoked. Methods & Procedures: A priming paradigm was used in which an object was presented in advance of a photograph of a hand gesture that participants were to mimic. On related trials, the target gesture was the same as the gesture typically used to interact with the object prime. On unrelated trials, the target gesture was not related to the object. In another set of experiments, a Stroop-like paradigm was used in which participants learned to produce manual responses to colour cues. After training, coloured photographs of manipulable objects were presented. The colour-cued gesture was either one typically used with the object or was unrelated to it. Outcomes & Results: In the priming experiments, response lat...
TL;DR: In this paper, aphasia can disrupt processing of semantic and/or phonological aspects of words and each of these domains involves multiple operations and an accurate assessment of word processing requires multiple measurements probing in each domain.
Abstract: Background: Aphasia can disrupt processing of semantic and/or phonological aspects of words and each of these domains involves multiple operations. Adequate assessment of word processing requires multiple measurements probing in each domain. This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health to Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute (DC 00191‐21, PI: Myrna Schwartz) and to Temple University (DC01924‐11, PI: Nadine Martin). We thank Paula Sobel, Adelyn Brecher, Joe Marin, Jennifer Ayala, Kelly Bowes, Stephanie Tempest, and Lianne DiMarco for their help in collecting and organising the data reported here. We are especially grateful to the people who participated in these studies, and we thank them for their interest and support. Aims: This paper aims to facilitate accurate and comprehensive testing of the multiple operations involved in semantic and phonological processing of spoken words. Methods & Procedures: Normative data (means and standard deviations) from aphasic samples on ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare the speech of patients with progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA) and NFA consequent on stroke and show that NFA patients have similar speech rates in self-generated speech and reading text aloud, and equivalent error rates when reading text or isolated single words.
Abstract: Background: The speech of patients with progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA) has been described as similar to that in non-fluent aphasia (NFA) consequent on stroke. There are, however, few direct empirical comparisons of these two patient populations in the literature. Aims: To test the hypotheses that PNFA cases differ from NFA (a) in the extent to which their speech production deficit varies as a function of speaking task, and (b) in the nature of their phonological deficit. Methods & Procedures: Groups of PNFA and NFA patients (N = 10 each), matched on scores in a picture-naming test, were assessed on tasks of narrative picture description, reading aloud of text and single words, and phonological abilities such as rhyme judgement and rhyme production. Outcomes & Results: (a) The NFA cases showed equivalent speech rates in self-generated speech and reading text aloud, and equivalent error rates when reading text or isolated single words. In contrast, the PNFA cases spoke more rapidly when reading alo...
TL;DR: In this paper, a study was conducted to increase the informational content of spontaneous speech in two individuals with Broca's aphasia by training them in verb production at the sentence level using Verb Production at the Word and Sentence Level (Bastiaanse, Jonkers, Qu...
Abstract: Background: Verb production is often impaired in Broca's aphasia: Action naming is more affected than object naming and in spontaneous speech the number and/or diversity of lexical verbs is low. Because verbs play a pivotal role in the sentence, these verb problems have a serious impact on the communicative contents of speech in daily life. This project has financially been supported by grants from the Beatrixoord Foundation (Stichting Beatrixoord Noord‐Nederland) and the Dutch Aphasia Foundation (Stichting Afasie Nederland). The authors would like to thank Audrey Holland, Dirk‐Bart den Ouden, and Sharon Parry for their comments on an earlier version of the paper. Aims: The purpose of this study was to increase the informational content of spontaneous speech in two individuals with Broca's aphasia by training them in verb production. Methods & Procedures: Verb production was trained at the sentence level, using the treatment programme Verb Production at the Word and Sentence Level (Bastiaanse, Jonkers, Qu...
TL;DR: The results support the effectiveness of intensive intervention methods that require semantic judgements rather than naming and the use of fMRI to understand the neural basis of the response.
Abstract: Background : This pilot study presents a method of rehabilitation based on the assumption that there is a widely distributed neural network that supports semantic processing and that can be used to improve word retrieval without explicit naming. It employs functional imaging to help understand the neural basis of response to treatment. Aims : There are both behavioural and neural questions. First, this study investigates whether intensive therapy designed to reduce production errors by eliminating oral responses can yield improved naming of trained items. Second, it investigates whether changes in naming will be associated with changes in fMRI activation and whether the changes in activation pattern associated with recovery are primarily in the right hemisphere lpar;RH) or in perilesional tissue. Methods & Procedures : Four weeks of intensive semantic therapy designed to activate the semantic network and minimise errors was administered to AT, an individual with Wernicke's aphasia. Pre- and post-therapy b...
TL;DR: The authors reviewed the literature about jargon aphasia in order to provide an overview of our current knowledge of the condition and tried to review and appraise some of the key explanations for the phenomena of jargon.
Abstract: Background: Jargon aphasia is one of the most puzzling and clinically intractable forms of aphasia. It challenges us to think not only about the loss of normal language but also about the apparent acquisition of a strange and novel form of production. Aims: This paper aims to review the literature about jargon aphasia in order to provide an overview of our current knowledge of the condition. Main Contribution: The paper will cover five themes: nonword production, monitoring in jargon aphasia, writing in jargon aphasia, semantic jargon, and syntax in jargon aphasia. It attempts to review and appraise some of the key explanations for the phenomena of jargon. Conclusions: It is acknowledged that many of the questions posed by jargon aphasia remain unresolved. Nevertheless, some tentative explanations for the production of jargon are proposed.
TL;DR: In this article, spontaneous speech samples were elicited from 6 non-brain-damaged elderly subjects and 10 aphasic subjects, and analyzed using the Quantitative Production Analysis (QPA).
Abstract: Spontaneous speech samples were elicited from 6 non-brain-damaged elderly subjects and 10 aphasic subjects, and analyzed using the Quantitative Production Analysis (Berndt et al., 2000; Saffran et al., 1989). Aims of the study were to determine the applicability of a protocol developed for one task (story retelling) to a new task (picture description); to examine patterns of QPA scores obtained from a broad range of aphasic subjects unselected by diagnosis; and to compare these to obtained patterns from normal speakers. Implications are discussed of the use and interpretation of QPA values for a range of tasks and aphasic subjects.
TL;DR: Service industry employees were able to identify a range of factors that would act as barriers and facilitators for people with aphasia, and some of the more significant findings include the lack of other people's awareness about aphasic, the willingness of service industry workers at the individual level to accommodate people withAphasia and the difficulty in making the necessary system, policy, and procedural changes at the organisational level.
Abstract: Little research has identified the environmental facilitators and barriers to participation for people with aphasia in the community, and little research focusing on the perspective of service industry workers. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to community participation for adults with aphasia from the perspective of service industry workers. Eight focus groups were conducted with 24 service industry employees. Three categories of barriers and facilitators were identified: 1) People Environmental Factors, such as people’s awareness and assumptions about aphasia, 2) Physical Environmental Factors, such as written information and forms, and 3) Business or Organisational Environmental Factors, such as the communicative demands of the business transaction.
TL;DR: Aphasia severity, depression, semantic impairment, and reading comprehension may be most relevant to functional communication in people with acquired aphasia.
Abstract: Background: The functional communication deficits that result from aphasia are well known, although contributing factors have not been systematically studied. Although overall aphasia severity is directly related to communication ability, the contribution of cognitive and mood factors is less understood. Aims: This study attempted to identify predictors of functional communication in patients with acquired aphasia at various points post‐unilateral left hemisphere stroke. Methods & Procedures: A total of 57 patients with aphasia due to left hemisphere stroke completed a comprehensive battery of aphasia diagnostic, neuropsychological, mood, and functional communication measures. Significant predictors of functional communication were identified with multiple hierarchical regression analysis. Outcomes & Results: Over and above the contribution of aphasia severity, depression (sadness and anger), semantic processing, and reading comprehension accounted for a significant amount of variance in functional commun...
TL;DR: The Praxis system receives a new analysis based on the attempt to link human praxis to computational models of execution and observation of grasping in the macaque as well as the analysis of parallels between language and praxi.
Abstract: Background: The Mirror System Hypothesis offers the mirror system for grasping (i.e., neural mechanisms active for both execution and observation of grasping) as a neural ‘‘missing link’’ between the brains of our non-human ancestors of 20 million years ago and the modern human language-ready brain, stressing the importance of manual gesture in the evolution of mechanisms supporting language. Aims: To assess the view that neural mechanisms for both praxis and language share an evolutionary relationship to the ancestral mirror system for grasping. Main Contribution: The praxis system receives a new analysis based on the attempt to link human praxis to computational models of execution and observation of grasping in the macaque as well as the analysis of parallels between language and praxis. Conclusions: The conceptual analysis presented here may prove insightful for clinicians seeking to relate and differentiate aphasia and apraxia.
TL;DR: The authors compared the performance of healthy adults and adults with aphasia on their ability to convey main events in narrative discourse, and found that the younger group produced a significantly higher proportion of main events as compared to the older group and that the main events measure was stable for individual participants over time.
Abstract: Background: Quantitative measures of discourse skills of adults with aphasia can be valuable in documenting evidenced‐based practice. Comprehensive assessment of narrative discourse should include a measure of the ability to relay main events (Nicholas & Brookshire, 1995; Wright, Capilouto, Wagovich, Cranfill, & Davis, 2005). Wright et al. (2005) compared the ability of younger and older healthy adults to relate main events in response to pictured stimuli. Results indicated that the younger group produced a significantly higher proportion of main events as compared to the older group and that the main events measure was stable for individual participants over time. However, performance data and data supporting the stability of the main events measure for individuals with aphasia are needed to extend the clinical usefulness of the main events measure as an assessment tool. Aims: The purpose of this study was (a) to compare the performance of healthy adults and adults with aphasia on their ability to convey...
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of a combined semantic/phonologic cueing treatment on trained and untrained single words produced in the context of story retells were investigated.
Abstract: Background: The application of word‐finding treatments for aphasia, as well as the study of their effects, has typically centred on retrieval of single lexical items (Nickels, 2002b). Little is known about the effects of word‐finding treatments on lexical retrieval in discourse tasks. This research was supported by Rehabilitation Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs. Thanks are extended to Michelene Kalinyak‐Fliszar for her assistance with this project. Aims: The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of a combined semantic/phonologic cueing treatment on trained and untrained single words produced in the context of story retells. Generalisation to additional connected speech tasks was also assessed. Methods & Procedures: A well‐studied story retell procedure (Doyle et al., 2000) was used to guide selection of items for treatment and for measurement of treatment effects. A semantic/phonologic cueing hierarchy was applied to information units (IUs) that were consistently ...
TL;DR: Thompson et al. as mentioned in this paper examined the effects of a cueing hierarchy on naming in a patient with anomic aphasia and found that successful acquisition and maintenance of trained words, but no generalization to untrained words.
Abstract: This paper examines the effects of a cueing hierarchy on naming in a patient with anomic aphasia. Using a single‐subject multiple baseline design across behaviors, the patient was trained to produce single inanimate nouns while generalization was tested to semantically related nouns matched for frequency of occurrence. Results showed successful acquisition and maintenance of trained words, but no generalization to untrained words. These data indicate that generalization does not occur as a natural by‐product of successful treatment and suggest, as pointed out by Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968), that “generalization should be programmed rather than expected or lamented”. Original paper published as: Thompson, C. K., & Kearns, K. P. (1981). An experimental analysis of acquisition, generalization, and maintenance of naming behavior in a patient with anomia. In R. Brookshire (Ed.), Clinical Aphasiology Conference Proceedings (pp. 35–45). Minneapolis: BRK.