ERIC Number: ED640260
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 150
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3807-1038-1
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Determinants of Multilevel Discourse Outcomes in Anomia Treatment for Aphasia
Robert Benjamin Cavanaugh
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh
Communication is fundamental to the human condition but is impaired in life-altering ways for more than 2.4 million individuals with aphasia in the United States. Individuals with aphasia identify discourse-level communication (i.e. language in use) as a high priority for treatment. The central premise of most aphasia treatments is that restoring language at the phoneme, word, and/or sentence level will generalize to discourse. However, treatment-related changes in discourse-level communication are modest, poorly understood, and vary greatly between individuals with aphasia. In response, this study conducted a multilevel discourse analysis of archival, monologic discourse outcomes across two high-intensity Semantic Feature Analysis clinical trials (combined n = 60). First, we evaluated improvement on theoretically motivated discourse outcomes representing lexical-semantic processing, lexical diversity, grammatical complexity, and discourse informativeness across study enrollment, entry, exit, and 1 month follow-up. Second, we examined the potential moderating role of non-language cognitive factors (semantic memory, divided attention, and executive function) on discourse outcomes in a subsample of participants (n = 44). The present study found no evidence for meaningful or statistically reliable improvements in monologue discourse performance after Semantic Feature Analysis. There was weak and inconsistent evidence that non-language cognitive factors may play a role in moderating treatment response. While improving discourse-level communication may help to reduce the profound communication and psychosocial consequences of aphasia, these findings indicate that intentional treatment design with a focus on generalization to discourse is likely necessary to meaningfully improve discourse-level communication in aphasia in both research and clinical practice. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Aphasia, Medical Services, Communication (Thought Transfer), Language Proficiency, Medical Care Evaluation, Phonemes, Semantics, Patients, Physician Patient Relationship, Language Usage, Self Advocacy, Thinking Skills
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Related Records: EJ1441179
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A