Balancing Effortful and Errorless Learning in Naming Treatment for Aphasia

STUDY BASICS

Are you 18 or older diagnosed with chronic aphasia after a stroke? You may be able to participate in a research study testing a novel, computer-based anomia treatment designed to improve word-finding. Compensation is provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by stroke and other acquired brain injuries that affects over two million people in the United States and which interferes with life participation and quality of life. Anomia (i.e., word-finding difficulty) is a primary frustration for people with aphasia. Picture-based naming treatments for anomia are widely used in aphasia rehabilitation, but current treatment approaches do not address the long-term retention of naming abilities and do not focus on using these naming abilities in daily life. The current research in this sub-study is part of a larger study evaluating novel anomia treatment approaches to improve long-term retention and generalization to everyday life. 

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Eligible participants:

• Are 18 years old or older 
• Have an existing diagnosis of chronic aphasia (for over 6 months) following a left hemisphere stroke

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

This study involves pre-treatment assessments, a treatment period, and a post-treatment period. You will complete a brief questionnaire and the Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) will be administered to determine study eligibility. We will give you a series of speech and language assessments, and some assessments that ask about your quality of life and motivation. These tests may involve tasks such as naming pictures and following brief instructions.

If you are eligible to continue the study, the treatment phase will consist of 24 treatment sessions, 2x/week for 12 weeks. Treatment will consist of timed picture naming practice. 10-15 long term follow up sessions will be completed.