Efficacy of computer-assisted treatment for anomia in persons with chronic aphasia

Date

2009-05

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Abstract

One relatively new area of treatment efficacy research centers around computerized treatment for aphasia. This one-group single-treatment counterbalanced study determined the efficacy of commercially-available treatment software for anomia in persons with chronic aphasia. Eight Parrot Software programs were addressed in an intensive 32-hour treatment program lasting 4 weeks. The effect of this treatment on confrontational naming ability and oral discourse, as well satisfaction with the treatment program, was measured.

The six participants (divided into two subgroups of three) were administered 4 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of no treatment, with the order of phases counterbalanced across subgroups. Three assessment sessions (AS) measured responses to two confrontational naming tasks, two picture description tasks, and one narrative retell task. The Program Evaluation Inventory – Short Form (PEI-SF) was administered in AS3 to measure treatment acceptability.

Results indicated a significant change in confrontation naming ability. No change was noted in measures of oral discourse. Results of the PEI-SF indicated that participants felt the treatment employed acceptable procedures and goals and that the participants felt overall satisfaction with the intervention program. Clinical implications of the study are discussed and program modifications are suggested.

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Keywords

Anomia, Computerized treatment, Aphasia, Parrot software

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