CHANGES IN WORD PRODUCTION SENTENCE PRODUCTION AND RELEVANCE IN AN APHASIC THROUGH VERBAL CODITIONING

Verbal conditioning techniques were introduced over 98 sessions dealing with several response dimensions of an aphasic patient. Verbal, token, and self-reinforcement and punishment, delayed feedback and modeling were systematically employed. Increases resulted in frequency of words, sentences, and relevant utterances. Decreases were produced in unclear, perseverative, and irrelevant utterances. This study suggests that several characteristic deficit areas in an aphasic might be dealt with by means of verbal conditioning technology. The most marked changes appeared to occur as a result of modeling, self-punishment, and delayed reinforcement. © 1969.