Adults who sustain brain damage due to stroke, traumatic injury or surgery may develop difficulty finding words. This study compares the effectiveness of two behavior-based programs to improve picture naming ability in these individuals.
Difficulty finding words is common in patients with aphasia subsequent to left hemisphere stroke. This study will compare two cognitive therapies for the treatment of acquired word finding difficulties. The therapies use different types of cues. All participants will receive both therapies. Participants in this study will undergo a comprehensive and detailed assessment of language and other cognitive skills. The two treatments will be compared for their efficacy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
78
Errorful training condition: Participant saw a picture and named it without any cues. If an error was produced, the cue with the least amount of information was provided (e.g. for "pumpkin", "pu"). Cues with increasing information were provided until the picture was correctly named (e.g. for "pumpkin": "pump", "pumpki", then "pumpkin"). Once the correct name was provided, the trial ended.
Errorless learning (EL) condition: Participant saw a picture with its name, and repeated the word. The participant continued to name the picture as the auditory cues provided less and less of the word (e.g. for "banana" she would hear "banan", "bana" then "ba" and finally no cue). If an error was produced at any stage, the whole word was presented, the participant repeated it, and the trial ended.
Georgetown University Medical Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Improved picture naming of trained words.
Overall accuracy of named trained items
Time frame: Following conclusion of word treatment.
Improved picture naming of trained words.
Overall accuracy of named trained items
Time frame: At 6 months after conclusion of word treatment
Improved picture naming of untrained words.
Overall accuracy of named untrained items
Time frame: Following conclusion of word treatment.
Improved picture naming of untrained words.
Overall accuracy of named untrained items
Time frame: At 6 months after conclusion of word treatment
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