Naming of objects and actions after treatment with phonological components analysis in aphasia

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the effects of intensive treatment with phonological components analysis on naming of both objects and actions. Methods: Phonological components analysis (PCA) was used to treat two individuals with moderate or severe aphasia after stroke. A single case study design with chronological time series analysis was employed to explore the effects of treatment for a total of up to 20 hours comprising the naming of self-chosen objects and actions. Changes in confrontation naming ability were assessed repeatedly. In addition, generalisation of training effects was examined in connected speech in a picture description task as well as in ratings of functional communication skills as perceived by the participants and their next of kin. Results: An increase in correctly produced words for treated items with some generalisation to untreated items was demonstrated post-treatment in a participant with moderate mixed fluent aphasia and mostly phonological errors. Number of words and degree of informativeness in the picture description task also increased. Results remained at a 10-week follow-up. A participant with severe conduction aphasia and mainly semantic errors in the pre-training assessment also demonstrated a small increase in correct confrontation naming post-treatment. Some aspects of functional communication skills were rated slightly higher, but both participants perceived the negative impact of the aphasia to be greater post-treatment. Conclusions: Phonological component analysis may be used in training of both objects and actions. However, aphasia severity and underlying deficits most likely influence the results and further research is warranted to explore the training effects.