Finding the Right Words in Neurogenic Communication Disorders

Every year thousands of persons suffer from brain damage resulting in anomia, that is, word finding difficulties affecting their ability to talk to other people. Anomia may be a result of stroke or of progressive neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis (MS). Word retrieval is dependent on a complex system of different neural networks and to name objects and activities can be affected to different degrees. The present project explores different aspects of naming ability in altogether 90 persons that has anomia related to stroke or to Parkinson's disease or MS. Furthermore, the communicative strategies and resources used by conversation partners in everyday conversational interaction and in care situations, affected by anomia are studied. Finally, the project includes a study of the effectiveness of a word finding training program based on stimulation of semantic and phonological networks in the brain, involved in the production of words. There is a lack of research on effects on communication from anomia in Parkinson's disease and MS and there is no research on anomia that investigates both object and action naming using a material adapted to the Swedish language. In the project quantitative and qualitative methods are used to explore and describe how persons with different neurogenic communication disorders can use different resources and communicative strategies to express themselves.

Project out line

The main project consists of:

1. A descriptive study of the occurrence and type of naming difficulties in people with stroke, Parkinson's disease or Multiple sclerosis (MS) where quantitative data is compared at group level, (study 1).
2. A descriptive study in which word search strategies are investigated with both quantitative and qualitative methods (study 2).
3. A series of three intervention studies examining the effect of treatment of anomia (studies 3-5).

Study 1: The relation between type of injury and ability to name objects and actions and complex semantic-pragmatic word fluency

Participants The project includes a total of 90 people with anomia: 50 subjects with anomia after stroke, 20 individuals with Parkinson's disease and 20 individuals with MS are recruited are recruited through patient associations and health care facilities in Västra Götaland and included consecutively.

In the study confrontation naming ability, and word fluency is explored. In addition, the type of naming difficulties and consequences of anomia in everyday communication are examined with a questionnaire and communication analysis.

1) Confrontation naming ability is examined with a material consisting of 42 images representing 21 nouns and 21 verbs. The selection of images comes from The Object \& Action Naming Battery and is adapted to Swedish linguistic and cultural conditions. The images consist of simple black and white drawings. There is a 20-second time limit for response for each image. In addition to scoring, an analysis and categorization of the response according to the coding scheme is performed; 2) Word fluency is examined with semantic (animals and activities) and phonological (F, A and S) word fluency tests where the participant will produce as many words as possible for each category during one minute. The results are compared with reference data for healthy participants and the use of strategies is analyzed by calculating cluster size and number of switches between different categories; a more complex semantic-pragmatic word fluency task is also administrated.

Participants' experience of their communication skills in everyday life and quality of life is gathered in a questionnaire with image support: The Communication Outcome After Stroke (COAST) scale. COAST consists of 20 questions where participants estimate themselves on a 5-degree likert scale. Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL-39) and Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) are also administrated as well as a formalized interview.

Study 2: Word search strategies in naming difficulties in people with different types of neurogenic communication disorders

Participants In this descriptive study fifteen participants with Parkinson's disease and fifteen participants with MS are included.

Material and methods Word search strategies in ten-twenty minutes of naturally occurring conversations are assessed through communication analysis. Sequences where participants are involved in repair due to difficulties to express themselves are analyzed with the qualitative method Conversation Analysis in combination med Aktivity based communication analysis.

Studies 3-4: Training with semantic feature analysis to improve naming

Participants Six participants with MS and six participants with Parkinson's disease and 40 participants with anomia due to stroke will be included.

Intervention Participants receive training in semantic feature analysis (SFA) for naming of objects and activities. The training is administered by presenting an image representing either an object or an activity are presented to the participant. The participant is encouraged to try to produce the target word as well as a number of words semantically related to the target word. The related words are listed in a certain order and describe different semantic aspects of the target word. The participants get to choose a number of words which they want to practice.

The participants receive training at 20 occasions, three times a week. The training is delivered during one hour each session in individual training for the participants with MS and in a group setting for two hours, including 30 minutes pause for participants with stroke

Study 3-4 - training anomia due to Parkinson's disease and MS Since semantic feature analysis has not previously been used as treatment for people with Parkinson's disease or MS, the effect is evaluated in using time series design with multiple baselines. Three-five baseline measures of the dependent variable is collected before start of training and then every fourth training session.

Study 5 - training anomia due to stroke In study 5 the effect of intervention for participants with anomia due to stroke is assessed in a randomized group study with a control group. The control group receives training in comprehension. The groups are matched in terms of age, severity of anomia time since onset and level of education. Before and after the intervention, as well as at a twelve week follow up, the effects are assessed in both groups.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjective experience of word finding difficulties
* Diagnosed left hemisphere stroke or Parkinson's disease or MS
* With correction, sufficient hearing and vision to be able to participate in the assessment
* Participants with stroke at least six months post-onset and documented location of injury.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Mother tongue other than Swedish
* Moderately or severely impaired comprehension
* Other neurological injury or disease
* Moderate-severe apraxia of speech or dysarthria
* Fatigue or impaired attention deficit which prevents participating in intensive training