A Dual-Task Tool for Quantifying Normal Comprehension of Aphasic Connected
Speech Production: A Constructive Replication

Matthews, Christine T. and McNeil, Malcolm R. and Hula, William D. and Rubinsky, Hillel J. and Fossett, Tepanta R.D. and Doyle, Patrick J.
A Dual-Task Tool for Quantifying Normal Comprehension of Aphasic Connected
Speech Production: A Constructive Replication. In Clinical Aphasiology Conference: Clinical Aphasiology Conference (2004 : 34th : Park City, UT : May 2004) / : (2004).

Abstract

This study used resource allocation theory and dual-task methods to assess whether a
language comprehension task and a visual- manual tracking task exhibited concurrent
performance costs. Using increased tracking task demands compared to a previous study
(McNeil et al., in press), results were replicated. Normal participants tracked significantly
better when they listened to mildly versus moderately aphasic speakers’ story retells.
Contrary to predic tions, no effect of tracking difficulty on story retell performance was
found despite the increased tracking difficulties used compared to the previous study.