Aphasia
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aimed at investigating the suitability of a classical conditioning for the treatment of anomic disorder. In this study 12 patients suffering from pure anomia in the chronic stage of the disease underwent a word repetition training with a computerized telemedicine protocol. Each patient trained two word sets, one in a conditioned and the other in a non-conditioned training modality; a third non trained set served as control set.
Detailed description
In this study, a computer based word repetition protocol was administered at the distance to 12 pure anomic patients in the chronic stage of the disease. The to be repeated words were presented alongside the corresponding pictures. The timing of word and picture presentation was manipulated in order to investigate the suitability of classical conditioning to reteach the association between pictures and their names. Data were analyzed at the group and at the single subject level with the aim of establishing the relative efficacy of the conditioned and non-conditioned word-repetition modality and the cognitive features predicting therapy success. In keeping with preliminary results obtained on a single case study, conditioning turned out to improve therapy gain at the group level. Moreover, hints were found suggesting less generalization to untreated words in conditioned compared to non-conditioned training. Non-word repetition skills was the only feature in the participants cognitive profile which was reliably linked to the therapy outcome.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALConditioned word repetition training
In the classical conditioning training the onset of the visual stimulus preceded that of the auditory stimulus with a short onset asynchrony, and both stimuli co-terminated. By contrast, in the training without conditioning the auditory stimulus was administered first and the visual stimulus appeared short after the off-set of the auditory one.
Sponsors
I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
12 patients suffering from pure anomia in the chronic stage of the disease underwent a word repetition training with a computerized telemedicine protocol. Each patient trained two word sets, one in a conditioned and the other in a non-conditioned training modality; a third non trained set served as control.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Aphasic patients with word finding difficulty * Must be able to repeat single words
Exclusion criteria
* Severe cognitive impairment * Impaired single word comprehension
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Training effect in the treated word set | immediately before and immediately after the training protocol (duration of the training protocol: 6 weeks) | Differences between accuracy pre and post in the treated word set |
Outcome results
None listed