Integrated Training for Aphasia: An Application of Part-Whole Learning to Treat Lexical Retrieval, Sentence Production, and Discourse-Level Communications in Three Cases of Nonfluent Aphasia

Lisa Milman*, Mariana Vega-Mendoza, Deanna Clendenen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate integrated training for aphasia (ITA), a multicomponent language-production treatment based on part-whole learning that systematically trains lexical retrieval, sentence production, and discourse-level communications. Specific research objectives were to evaluate acquisition of target structures, statistical parameters associated with learning variables, treatment generalization, and the efficacy of individual treatment components.

Method: ITA was administered to 3 individuals with nonfluent aphasia following amultiple-baseline, across-behaviors design. Effect size and correlational coefficients were computed to assess acquisition, generalization, and maintenance of target structures. Standardized tests and a treatment efficacy questionnaire were also completed. Results: A significant treatment effect was found in 2 of the 3 participants. In addition, as is seen in normal skill acquisition, practice time and error rate were significantly correlated. All participants demonstrated evidence of generalization on standardized language measures. Only 1 participant improved, however, on the communication measures.

Results of the treatment component analysis revealed significant differences in the perceived efficacy of individual therapy tasks.

Conclusions: Findings add to the evidence supporting multicomponent aphasia treatments, provide preliminary support for ITA and the application of a part-whole learning approach, and suggest that specific treatment componentsmay contribute differentially to outcomes and generalization effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)105-119
Number of pages15
JournalAmerican Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
Volume23
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2014

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • aphasia
  • intervention
  • language
  • communication
  • SEMANTIC FEATURE ANALYSIS
  • WORD-RETRIEVAL
  • NAMING DISORDERS
  • THERAPY
  • CONTEXT
  • AGRAMMATISM
  • EFFICACY
  • DEFICITS
  • ADULTS
  • VERB

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