Phonological and orthographic facilitation of word-retrieval in aphasia: Immediate and delayed effects

In the literature on repetition priming of word-production in normal participants, long-lasting effects can be found from a single prime. This contrasts with the findings with adults with anomia (as part of their aphasia) where phonological cues, such as first sound or rhyme, have been shown to have very short-lasting effects on word retrieval (Patterson, Purell, & Morton, 1983). In addition, the research into treatment of anomia suggests that semantic techniques produce longer-lasting effects than phonological techniques (Howard et al., 1985b). One difference between phonological and semantic techniques is in the element of choice available. Typically phonological cues are simply provided. This contrasts with semantic techniques where a choice is available, for example selecting from a set of pictures to match a word. This study, using a case series design, set out to replicate the finding, that phonological techniques have only short-lasting effects on word retrieval in aphasia and to investigate the influence of providing a choice of cues. Items that participants with aphasia were unable to name after 5 seconds were allocated to one of three conditions: extra time (control condition), single cue, and choice of two cues. Naming was assessed immediately and at a delay (over 10 minutes later). Four different cue types were used: whole word, spoken CV, written CV, and rime. The results were surprising. The cues influenced immediate naming, as predicted. However, this effect was still significant a delayed naming. Additionally, the benefits from a choice of cues were generally similar to those from a single cue. Different patterns of cue effectiveness were found for different participants. Further investigations shed some light on the mechanisms of cueing, orthographic cueing in particular.