Optimising rehabilitation outcomes for aphasia following stroke through new learning
Citation
Kelly, H. (2007) Optimising rehabilitation outcomes for aphasia following stroke through new learning, Cerebrovascular Diseases, vol. 23, , pp. 128,
Abstract
Published Abstract -
Many people with aphasia retain residual language impairments to varying degrees
of severity following rehabilitation. Currently there is no theory of rehabilitation
that explains the therapeutic process involved in the restoration of a damaged
language system. Therefore it is not possible to discern what approaches/tasks
would be most successful at restoring particular language functions. Does rehabilitation
facilitate the accessing of the damaged language system or could it involve
new learning resulting in the creation of new language representations? The main
objective of this study was to investigate whether adults with aphasia could learn
new vocabulary. The methodology incorporated procedures based on evidence from
the literature in order to facilitate and promote optimum learning. The novel stimuli
(20 new words) were taught to 12 adults (<65 years) who presented with varying
degrees of severity of aphasia. The training procedure incorporated learning theory
and a cognitive neuropsychological model of language. The immediate and delayed
recall of this vocabulary was investigated using a range of assessments to facilitate
the capture of new learning which was measured not only in terms of the accurate
production of the stimuli but also the recognition and knowledge of the word
forms and meanings. Overall findings of this investigation with the presentation
of select case studies demonstrate the ability of people to learn new language
representations despite severe language impairment. The findings, which strongly
suggest that language rehabilitation could incorporate the process of new learning,
have significant clinical relevance in terms of developing a theory of rehabilitation
and to the procedures employed in speech and language therapy.