Typicality-based semantic treatment for anomia results in multiple levels of generalisation.
This study investigated the effects of typicality-based semantic feature analysis (SFA) treatment on generalisation across three levels: untrained related items, semantic/phonological processing tasks, and measures of global language function. Using a single-subject design with group-level analyses, 27 persons with aphasia (PWA) received typicality-based SFA to improve their naming of atypical and/or typical exemplars. Progress on trained, untrained, and monitored items was measured weekly. Pre- and post-treatment assessments were administered to evaluate semantic/phonological processing and overall language ability. Ten PWA served as controls. For the treatment participants, the likelihood of naming trained items accurately was significantly higher than for monitored items over time. When features of atypical items were trained, the likelihood of naming untrained typical items accurately was significantly higher than for untrained atypical items over time. Significant gains were observed on semantic/phonological processing tasks and standardised assessments after therapy. Different patterns of near and far transfer were seen across treatment response groups. Performance was also compared between responders and controls. Responders demonstrated significantly more improvement on a semantic processing task than controls, but no other significant change score differences were found between groups. In addition to positive treatment effects, typicality-based SFA naming therapy resulted in generalisation across multiple levels.
['Gilmore|Natalie|N|', 'Meier|Erin L|EL|', 'Johnson|Jeffrey P|JP|', 'Kiran|Swathi|S|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1586-8913']
D000368:Aged D000849:Anomia D001037:Aphasia D000072466:Cognitive Remediation D005260:Female D005793:Generalization, Psychological D006801:Humans D007808:Language Therapy D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care D011578:Psycholinguistics D012660:Semantics D014163:Transfer, Psychology
Generalisation Aphasia Typicality Rehabilitation