Recursive self-feedback enables target language production in aphasia with pathological language mixing

Area of Science:

• Neurolinguistics
• Speech-language pathology
• Cognitive rehabilitation

Background:

• Bilingualism following stroke can result in pathological language mixing (PLM), a challenging condition with limited therapeutic interventions.
• Recursive self-feedback (RSF) presents a novel, self-directed strategy for individuals to independently manage and correct language mixing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of RSF therapy in a bilingual individual with severe Broca's aphasia and PLM.
• To assess the impact of RSF on reducing pathological language mixing and improving target language production.

Main Methods:

• A 59-year-old female bilingual participant (Spanish/English) with chronic Broca's aphasia and PLM underwent 14 intensive RSF sessions over 3 weeks.
• The participant utilized a mobile application to engage in self-monitoring and correction of language mixing during spontaneous speech tasks.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in the proportion of English words used in spontaneous speech was observed.
• Post-treatment assessments revealed enhanced performance on both treated and untreated narrative prompts.
• An 11-point increase in the Aphasia Quotient (AQ) on the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R) was documented.

Conclusions:

• RSF therapy facilitates target language production and clinically meaningful language recovery in individuals with aphasia and PLM, without external support.
• RSF is a promising therapeutic avenue for enhancing language access, control, and recovery in post-stroke bilingual aphasia patients.