A meta-analysis of word-finding treatments for aphasia

Abstract

Background: The research literature on treatment methods for word-finding deficits in aphasia is extensive. A meta-analysis of studies for word-finding therapy was conducted in order to objectively synthesise this information to answer large-scale questions of treatment efficacy.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of various treatment approaches for word-finding deficits for individuals with aphasia. This analysis also examined gains made to trained and untrained words, the level of maintenance after therapy, and the effect of the time post-onset of aphasia on the recovery of language function.

Methods & Procedures: Various search methods were used to gather anomia treatment studies for this analysis. From 44 studies, 107 effect sizes were calculated for the final analysis. These data were sorted according to the following moderator variables: treatment category (semantic, phonological, or mixed), word set (trained, exposed-related, exposed-unrelated, unexposed-unrelated, and unexposed-related), follow-up measures, and median number of months post-onset.

Outcomes & Results: All therapy approaches showed evidence of efficacy, although the variance between studies was large. Strong gains were seen for trained and exposed words, but only minor gains for unexposed words. Large effects were seen for up to 2 months post-therapy, with lingering effects at 3 months post-therapy. Treatment appeared efficacious even for individuals that were years post-onset.

Conclusions: An objective synthesis of the literature shows that intervention for word-finding deficits is efficacious. However, the level of gains varied widely across studies and therapy approaches. As expected, little generalisation was found for untrained-unexposed words.

Keywords:

• Anomia
• Treatment
• Meta-analysis

The authors would like to thank Kevin Kearns for reviewing this manuscript and offering helpful recommendations. We also wish to thank the following students for searching and reviewing the literature in preparation for this manuscript: Jessica Brocki, Justin Carr, Katie Catania, Jennifer Dechert, Elizabeth Derx, Shannon DeSantis, Erin Fenar, Rachel Garguilo, Amy Gibson, Cody Goodwin, Sarah Hunt, Keri Jakubowski, Helen Johnson, Lindsay Johnson, Melissa Kron, Melanie Lescynski, Meaghan Linehan, Delaney Lowery, Elizabeth Murphy, Shannon O'Leary, Laurie Pollinger, Pam Prentice, Amy Pugh, Jennifer Rosney, Lindsey Taylor, Kim Uminski, Elizabeth Wilger, Sarah Williams, Lindsay Zoldos, Alycia Zwahlen, and Christie Zyhowski.