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Imitation-based aphasia therapy increases narrative content: a case series
E Susan Duncan1,2, Steven L Small3
11 Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Clinical Rehabilitation
|April 11, 2017
Summary
Intensive imitation therapy improved narrative production in individuals with chronic aphasia. More therapy sessions correlated with greater gains in communicative word usage.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Aphasia, a communication disorder resulting from stroke, often impairs narrative production.
- Imitation-based therapy is a common approach for aphasia rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if intensive imitation-based aphasia therapy generalizes to an unrelated narrative production task.
- To assess the effectiveness of imitation therapy in improving communicative word use in individuals with chronic aphasia.
Main Methods:
- An ABA single-subject design study was employed.
- Nineteen participants with chronic aphasia underwent six weeks of intensive imitation therapy.
- Narrative production was assessed pre- and post-therapy using correct information units.
Main Results:
- Participants showed significant improvements in both the number and percentage of correct information units produced in narratives.
- The number of therapy sessions completed was the only predictor of improvement in the percentage of correct information units.
- No significant differences were found between pre-therapy or post-therapy time points, indicating treatment effects.
Conclusions:
- Intensive imitation-based aphasia therapy shows potential for promoting generalization to narrative production tasks.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore therapeutic mechanisms.