Year of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Speech-Language Pathology

Department or School/College

Speech, Language, Hearing, and Occupational Sciences

Committee Chair

Jenna Griffin-Musick, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Committee Co-chair

Catherine Off, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Commitee Members

Jenna Griffin-Musick, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Catherine Off, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Danielle Fahey, Ph.D., Kim McKearnan, Ph.D., OTR/L, Molly Kimmel, OTR/L

Keywords

aphasia, neuroplasticity, intensity, neurorehabilitation, language intervention, cognitive-linguistic performance

Publisher

University of Montana

Subject Categories

Communication Sciences and Disorders | Speech Pathology and Audiology

Abstract

This study addresses the gap in literature by directly comparing the effectiveness of Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs (ICAPs) and modified ICAPs (mICAPs) to usual care service delivery models for people with aphasia. Through a prospective study design, cognitive-linguistic function change scores across different service delivery models were examined. The findings reveal significant within-group improvements in cognitive-linguistic function for participants in ICAPs, with some improvement seen in mICAPs and usual care conditions. Intensive models demonstrated greater improvement compared to non-intensive usual care models, particularly evident in the Western Aphasia Battery – Revised and the Boston Naming Test – Second Edition. However, this trend was not consistent across all assessment measures, suggesting variability in outcomes. Additionally, no strong correlation was found between program intensity and cognitive-linguistic outcomes at the group level. Furthermore, the study found no significant relationship between time post-onset of aphasia and cognitive-linguistic change scores, indicating that individuals with aphasia can experience meaningful improvements regardless of chronicity. Despite efforts to mitigate limitations such as small sample size and participant variability, caution is warranted in generalizing results. Future research should explore this topic with larger, multi-site studies to further validate findings and enhance generalizability. Nevertheless, the study provides valuable insights supporting the implementation of intensive treatment approaches for people with aphasia, highlighting their potential to significantly enhance cognitive-linguistic function.

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© Copyright 2024 Adele J. Derendinger