Motor learning guided treatment for acquired apraxia of speech

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to expand the evidence on the effectiveness of motor learning guided approach for the treatment of acquired apraxia of speech. This study investigated the influence of practice frequency and number of targets per practice set on transfer of speech motor learning.

Method: This is a multiple baseline single-case study across two treatment cycles involving two individuals with chronic acquired apraxia of speech. Treatment Cycle 1 investigated the influence of self-controlled practice on speech motor learning through two conditions of practice. Treatment Cycle 2 investigated the influence of number of targets on transfer of learning.

Results: There was a treatment effect for both participants in both treatment cycles. In Treatment Cycle 1, both participants demonstrated speech motor learning on treated stimuli in all practice conditions and no transfer of learning to untrained phrases. In Treatment Cycle 2, the number of targets was reduced. A change in speech motor learning was demonstrated by both participants on the trained phrases as well as a transfer of learning as measured by performance on untrained set of phrases.

Conclusion: The outcomes of this study contribute to the growing evidence supporting the effectiveness of motor learning guided treatment for acquired apraxia of speech.

KEYWORDS:

• Speech motor learning
• apraxia of speech
• motor learning guided
• intervention
• treatment
• aphasia

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge Aileen Lott, Courtney Graham, Victoria Byrd, Sara Frederick, Alisha Springle and the participants for their contribution to the completion of this study. Thank you extended to Stacie Raymer for helpful comments and suggestions regarding this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Rachel K. Johnson http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2479-2965