© American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Clinical Focus |
Computerized Script Training for Aphasia: Preliminary Results
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and Northwestern University, Chicago
University of Arizona, Tucson
Mentor Interactive, Boulder, CO, and Boulder Language Technologies, Boulder
Contact author: Leora R. Cherney, Center for Aphasia Research, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611. E-mail: lcherney{at}ric.org.
Purpose: This article describes computer software that was developed specifically for training conversational scripts and illustrates its use with 3 individuals with aphasia.
Method: Three participants with chronic aphasia (Broca's, Wernicke's, and anomic) were assessed before and after 9 weeks of a computer script training program. For each participant, 3 individualized scripts were developed, recorded on the software, and practiced sequentially at home. Weekly meetings with the speech-language pathologist occurred to monitor practice and assess progress. Baseline and posttreatment scripts were audiotaped, transcribed, and compared to the target scripts for content, grammatical productivity, and rate of production of script-related words. Interviews with the person with aphasia and his or her significant other were conducted at the conclusion of treatment.
Results: All measures (content, grammatical productivity, and rate of production of script-related words) improved for each participant on every script. Two participants gained more than 5 points on the Aphasia Quotient of the Western Aphasia Battery. Five positive themes were consistently identified from the exit interviews—increased verbal communication, improvements in other modalities and situations, communication changes noticed by others, increased confidence, and satisfaction with the software.
Conclusion: Computer-based script training potentially may be an effective intervention for persons with chronic aphasia.
Key Words: aphasia, rehabilitation, computer treatment, script training
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Delicious 
Digg 
Facebook 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  S. Goldberg, K. L. Haley, and A. Jacks Script Training and Generalization for People With Aphasia Am J Speech Lang Pathol, August 1, 2012; 21(3): 222 - 238. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Theodoros Telepractice in Speech-Language Pathology: The Evidence, the Challenges, and the Future Perspectives on Telepractice, September 1, 2011; 1(1): 10 - 21. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Nobis-Bosch, L. Springer, I. Radermacher, and W. Huber Supervised Home Training of Dialogue Skills in Chronic Aphasia: A Randomized Parallel Group Study J Speech Lang Hear Res, August 1, 2011; 54(4): 1118 - 1136. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Youmans, S. R. Youmans, and A. B. Hancock Script Training Treatment for Adults With Apraxia of Speech Am J Speech Lang Pathol, February 1, 2011; 20(1): 23 - 37. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. G. Centeno The Relevance of Bilingualism Questionnaires in the Personalized Treatment of Bilinguals With Aphasia Communication Disorders and Sciences in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations, October 1, 2010; 17(3): 65 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. L. Holland, A. S. Halper, and L. R. Cherney Tell Me Your Story: Analysis of Script Topics Selected by Persons With Aphasia Am J Speech Lang Pathol, August 1, 2010; 19(3): 198 - 203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Justice Treatment Research Am J Speech Lang Pathol, August 1, 2008; 17(3): 210 - 211. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|