The effect of word familiarity and treatment approach on word retrieval skills in aphasia

Dorry, Jacqueline and Hough, Monica (2010) The effect of word familiarity and treatment approach on word retrieval skills in aphasia. [Clinical Aphasiology Paper]

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Abstract

The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the effect of subjective familiarity on an aphasic individual’s word retrieval skills and ability to improve in short, intensive treatment. Four males with chronic aphasia were participants. Familiarity was determined by having participants rate the Roussion and Pourtois' (2004) colorized pictures with a rating scale adapted from work by Gilhooly and Hay (1977). Participants were assigned to one of two treatment approaches (SFA or Phonological Components Analysis) and then underwent the other treatment approach focusing on retrieval of familiar and unfamiliar words based on their ratings. Results revealed that all four participants showed greatest improvement on familiar treated stimuli, regardless of treatment approach or initial severity of aphasic impairment. However, minimal generalization to probe stimuli was observed for any participant, regardless of familiarity. Results support the premise that familiarity is an important variable that influences improvement in word retrieval therapy in chronic aphasia.

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