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A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

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4.4 PILOT STUDY ONE<br />

This pilot study assessed the validity <strong>of</strong> the non-l<strong>in</strong>guistic learn<strong>in</strong>g task<br />

(stepp<strong>in</strong>g-stone route) (see section 4.2.2.2) and evaluated the feasibility <strong>of</strong> the<br />

full tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and assessment procedure with an adult with no history <strong>of</strong> aphasia<br />

and with normal cognitive function<strong>in</strong>g. This evaluation <strong>in</strong>formed the procedure<br />

for the ma<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>vestigation, <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> the number <strong>of</strong> sessions required for<br />

tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and assessment <strong>of</strong> the new words, the tim<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> these sessions, the<br />

comprehension and clarity <strong>of</strong> all <strong>in</strong>structions and any practicalities relat<strong>in</strong>g to the<br />

presentation <strong>of</strong> the stimuli.<br />

4.4.1 Participant details<br />

P1 was female (aged 23;09 years) and had completed a total <strong>of</strong> 17 years <strong>in</strong><br />

education. She was an allied health pr<strong>of</strong>essional who worked part-time cl<strong>in</strong>ically<br />

and part-time as a research assistant. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the period <strong>of</strong> the study P1 was<br />

absent from work due to a relapse <strong>in</strong> multiple sclerosis. P1 was <strong>in</strong>sistent that<br />

she participated <strong>in</strong> the study at this time, as she wanted to occupy herself dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

her recovery period. P1 was unable to use her dom<strong>in</strong>ant hand for all tasks as a<br />

result <strong>of</strong> her relapse. Dur<strong>in</strong>g this time she also experienced fatigue and was<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g adm<strong>in</strong>istered <strong>in</strong>travenous steroids daily.<br />

4.4.2 Results <strong>of</strong> P1’s performance <strong>of</strong> screen<strong>in</strong>g assessments<br />

As anticipated, P1 scored 100% for the immediate and delayed recall <strong>of</strong> the nonl<strong>in</strong>guistic<br />

learn<strong>in</strong>g route (see section 4.2.2.2) as well as for all sections <strong>of</strong> the<br />

CLQT (Helm-Estabrooks, 2001) (see section 4.2.2.1). P1 scored 8 (borderl<strong>in</strong>e)<br />

on both the anxiety and depression scale, <strong>in</strong>dicat<strong>in</strong>g that she was a little more<br />

anxious and depressed than would be deemed normal, which may have been<br />

due to her illness. The results <strong>of</strong> the language screen<strong>in</strong>g assessments (100%<br />

accuracy) demonstrated that P1 was <strong>of</strong> normal l<strong>in</strong>guistic function<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

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