Language-Action Games: A Probing Activity for Word Finding Accuracy by People with Aphasia

Author

Ethan Kristek, Fontbonne University

Year of Award

2015

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

College

College of Education & Allied Health

Department

Communication Disorders and Deaf Education

First Advisor

Carmen Russell

Second Advisor

Amanda Alton

Third Advisor

Lynne Shields

Keywords

clinician, language, linguistic, therapy, fluent

Abstract

People with Aphasia (PWA) can demonstrate successful communication despite word finding difficulties in their everyday life. Language action games provide an opportunity for PWA to produce words and verbal utterances they may still be able to use, but they do not typically use in their everyday behavior. The lack of probing activities that mirror real life communication hinders monitoring PWA's level of successful word finding. This study was designed to examine Apples to Apples as a probing activity that provides an opportunity for PWA to demonstrate use of word finding strategies and success of word finding as measured by number of correct/incorrect productions with and without clinician assistance during group therapy. Data was collected regarding word-finding attempts with/without clinician assistance during group activities incorporating the cognitive/communicative task of Apples to Apples. A group of individuals with varying levels and types of aphasia participated in a cognitive/communicative task of Apples to Apples. Data was collected using archival videos from The Eardley Family Clinic for Speech-Language-Hearing at Fontbonne University. Participants are (PWA), classified by the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised (WAB-R), who participated in the Aphasia Boot Camp at the clinic. These individuals participated in the 8 day Aphasia Boot Camp. Each camp day lasted 3 hours, 4 days a week for 4 weeks and included 1 hour of group therapy (4 clients, 5 clinicians; one clinician introduced the group activities), 1 hour of individual cognitive therapy, and 1 hour of individual traditional language therapy. Camp was designed to promote growth in cognition and language skills for PWA. Results: Apples to Apples provided a novel probing activity for PWA to demonstrate the success level of used, trained word finding strategies and for speech-language pathologists to monitor success level of word finding. Apples to Apples appears to create an environment for clinicians to assist or monitor independent growth in regards to using word-finding strategies for a range of severities in PWA in group therapy.

Document Type

Restricted Thesis

Recommended Citation

Kristek, Ethan, "Language-Action Games: A Probing Activity for Word Finding Accuracy by People with Aphasia" (2015). All Theses, Dissertations, and Capstone Projects. 93.
https://griffinshare.fontbonne.edu/all-etds/93