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A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

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320). Additionally, the CLQT <strong>in</strong>dicated that C6’s attention, executive functions<br />

and visuospatial skills were with<strong>in</strong> normal limits and while he presented with<br />

moderate memory difficulties, <strong>in</strong>structions for the task were presented <strong>in</strong> written<br />

form, which could be read time and aga<strong>in</strong>. It was therefore not possible to<br />

identify what cognitive difficulties affected C6’s ability to complete this task.<br />

Therefore it is not possible to predict the usefulness <strong>of</strong> this task. Its robustness<br />

<strong>in</strong> assess<strong>in</strong>g the various components <strong>of</strong> cognitive ability or claims for the<br />

predictive ability <strong>of</strong> the clock draw<strong>in</strong>g task are questionable.<br />

6.3.3.6 Summary<br />

The hypotheses relat<strong>in</strong>g to the impact <strong>of</strong> attention, memory and executive<br />

functions on the acquisition <strong>of</strong> new vocabulary have been supported for both the<br />

learn<strong>in</strong>g and reta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> new vocabulary. This group trend <strong>in</strong>dicated that the<br />

greater the impairment <strong>in</strong> these cognitive doma<strong>in</strong>s, the more impact there was<br />

on the ability to demonstrate the learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> new vocabulary. It is speculated<br />

that, as <strong>in</strong>dicated by the literature (see section 2.6.3.3), these hypotheses would<br />

also be supported for learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>vestigations <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g populations other than<br />

stroke who experience these cognitive impairments. However, it was felt that<br />

more robust cognitive screen<strong>in</strong>g assessments (based on a robust theoretical<br />

model) should be used to facilitate the measurement <strong>of</strong> cognitive doma<strong>in</strong>s for<br />

people whose language difficulties may underestimate their cognitive abilities.<br />

The group trends suggest that the most appropriate person for language<br />

rehabilitation would be someone who had <strong>in</strong>tact attention, memory and<br />

executive function because <strong>of</strong> their learn<strong>in</strong>g potential, however mild impairments<br />

would appear to be adequate for rehabilitation as demonstrated by P3 who was<br />

mildly impaired <strong>in</strong> all cognitive doma<strong>in</strong>s but ranked second <strong>in</strong> his ability to learn<br />

the new vocabulary. Fill<strong>in</strong>gham, Sage and Lambon Ralph (2005) report that<br />

immediate and long-term improvements <strong>of</strong> nam<strong>in</strong>g ability related to participants’<br />

executive functions and recognition memory, therefore these abilities impact not<br />

only upon the learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> new vocabulary but also the restitution <strong>of</strong> a damaged<br />

256

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