Assessment of linguistic and verbal short-term memory components of language abilities in aphasia

Publication date: Available online 21 February 2018Source: Journal of NeurolinguisticsAuthor(s): Nadine Martin, Irene Minkina, Francine P. Kohen, Michelene Kalinyak-FliszarAbstractSome current models of aphasia emphasize a role of short-term memory in the processing of language and propose that the language impairment in aphasia involves impairment to cognitive processes that activate and maintain representations of words over the time-period needed to support single word and multiple word tasks, including verbal span tasks. This paper reports normative data from 39 people with aphasia and 16 age-matched neurotypical controls on a test battery for aphasia that assesses effects of increased short-term/working memory load on word and sentence processing as well as effects of linguistic variations on verbal short-term memory abilities. Two concepts are discussed that capture the unique potential of this test battery for research and clinical practice: specificity of diagnosis and sensitivity to all degrees of aphasia severity, including mild aphasia. An analysis is included that shows how the performance of individuals with mild aphasia who achieve normal level of performance on the Western Aphasia Battery (Kertesz, 2006) shows a decline in a temporal delay condition that is greater than performance of control participants. We also report preliminary data showing differential effects of adding a time interval before a response or between items to be compared: reduced accuracy fo...

Source: Journal of Neurolinguistics - July 11, 2018 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: research