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A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

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others. It would be useful to ascerta<strong>in</strong> if <strong>in</strong>tensive learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the vocabulary<br />

would <strong>in</strong>crease the performance <strong>of</strong> those low scor<strong>in</strong>g participants where they<br />

would learn fewer words over the same period <strong>of</strong> time (four days) or have a<br />

longer period <strong>of</strong> time to learn the same set <strong>of</strong> items. This <strong>in</strong>formation would<br />

further <strong>in</strong>form therapy as to the different ways that patients <strong>in</strong>teract with the<br />

rehabilitation process and highlight methods <strong>of</strong> ensur<strong>in</strong>g that each <strong>in</strong>dividual is<br />

given the opportunity for optimal restitution <strong>of</strong> language before resort<strong>in</strong>g to<br />

alternative communication methods. The impact <strong>of</strong> cognitive impairments on the<br />

acquisition <strong>of</strong> new vocabulary has been highlighted, however more <strong>in</strong>-depth<br />

assessments that are sensitive for people with aphasia are required for future<br />

research. Large-scale <strong>in</strong>vestigations that assess the effects <strong>of</strong> therapeutic<br />

<strong>in</strong>tervention <strong>of</strong> cognitive impairment <strong>in</strong> people with aphasia and <strong>in</strong> particular <strong>in</strong><br />

relation to language rehabilitation would be <strong>in</strong>valuable <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> aphasia.<br />

All participants <strong>in</strong> the ma<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>vestigation demonstrated the ability to learn <strong>in</strong> the<br />

language doma<strong>in</strong>. This suggests that new learn<strong>in</strong>g could be part <strong>of</strong> the<br />

underly<strong>in</strong>g process <strong>of</strong> language rehabilitation. If so, this has implications for<br />

speech and language therapists. Further <strong>in</strong>vestigations could ascerta<strong>in</strong> if it is<br />

possible to teach people the best method for learn<strong>in</strong>g, particularly those<br />

<strong>in</strong>dividuals with limited education experience. If so, the impact <strong>of</strong> success <strong>of</strong><br />

therapeutic rehabilitation could be evaluated follow<strong>in</strong>g such tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

would <strong>in</strong>form the best therapy methods to adapt. In addition, as this <strong>in</strong>vestigation<br />

has demonstrated the ability <strong>of</strong> people with aphasia to learn new vocabulary, is<br />

the possibility <strong>of</strong> adapt<strong>in</strong>g therapy methods to promote new learn<strong>in</strong>g, which<br />

would be <strong>in</strong>valuable for speech and language therapists.<br />

The ma<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>vestigation employed new s<strong>in</strong>gle words <strong>in</strong> the form <strong>of</strong> common<br />

nouns. When new vocabulary is learned it is then extended from s<strong>in</strong>gle word<br />

practise and <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong>to connected speech. Further <strong>in</strong>vestigation would<br />

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