Improved word comprehension in Global aphasia using a modified semantic feature analysis treatment

ABSTRACT

Limited research has investigated treatment of single word comprehension in people with aphasia, despite numerous studies examining treatment of naming deficits. This study employed a single case experimental design to examine efficacy of a modified semantic feature analysis (SFA) therapy in improving word comprehension in an individual with Global aphasia, who presented with a semantically based comprehension impairment. Ten treatment sessions were conducted over a period of two weeks. Following therapy, the participant demonstrated improved comprehension of treatment items and generalisation to control items, measured by performance on a spoken word picture matching task. Improvements were also observed on other language assessments (e.g. subtests of WAB-R; PALPA subtest 47) and were largely maintained over a period of 12 weeks without further therapy. This study provides support for the efficacy of a modified SFA therapy in remediating single word comprehension in individuals with aphasia with a semantically based comprehension deficit.

KEYWORDS:

• Aphasia treatment
• auditory comprehension
• Global aphasia
• semantic feature analysis
• treatment intensity

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the participant MB for his dedicated participation in the therapy programme. Portions of this work were presented at the 15th International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference, Melbourne, 2012.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.