Comparing Word Elicitation Strategies for Individuals With Apraxia of Speech and Aphasia

What is already known on this subject Many studies using sentences to improve word production included participants with aphasia only or aphasia and acquired apraxia of speech (AOS). A small number of studies have examined top-down, sentence-level cueing approaches to AOS therapy with encouraging results. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This paper examined word production in eight participants with aphasia and AOS across two elicitation contexts-repetition alone and repetition combined with a sentence completion task-to identify which strategy yields a higher rate of correct productions. This study isolated the motor processes involved in word production by removing the need for lexical retrieval, thereby controlling for the challenge of distinguishing word-finding deficits from motor control deficits in speakers with both aphasia and AOS. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this study? Potential implications of this study include identifying an effective strategy for eliciting accurate word production for people with chronic, severe expressive aphasia and AOS, which can be applied consistently to support motor learning and improve single-word production.