Applying adaptive distributed practice to self-managed computer-based anomia treatment: A single-case experimental...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Speech and Language Pathology
• Computer-Assisted Therapy

Background:

• Aphasia treatment needs accessible, evidence-based interventions.
• Computer-based approaches can improve access to long-term therapy.
• Anomia treatment often targets a limited number of words.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of computer-based anomia treatment using adaptive distributed practice.
• To assess the acquisition, retention, and generalization of trained words.
• To investigate the impact of stimuli variability on treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Two participants with post-stroke aphasia underwent a 12-week adaptive distributed practice naming intervention.
• Stimuli variability was manipulated across three conditions: high, low, and verbal description.
• Bayesian generalized mixed-effect models analyzed outcomes at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-treatment.

Main Results:

• Both participants demonstrated substantial acquisition, generalization, and retention of trained words.
• Participant 1 acquired approximately 77 trained and 63 generalization words; Participant 2 acquired 57 trained and 48 generalization words.
• Stimuli variability did not yield practically significant differences in outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Adaptive distributed practice effectively re-trains a greater number of words compared to traditional anomia treatment.
• Generalization suggests improved lexical access beyond simple stimulus-response learning.
• The use of free, open-source software in an asynchronous format offers a clinically feasible and accessible rehabilitation solution.