A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

language abilities of ten participants with chronic aphasia (average 8.5 years
post-onset), whereas this was not observed in the seven participants in the
control group. Meinzer, Elbert, Wienbruch, Djundja, Barthel and Rockstroh
(2004) also investigated intensive language training with 28 people with chronic
aphasia and employed the restraining of non-verbal communication. Findings
noted significant improvement of language function in 16 participants with the
other 12 participants demonstrating some improvement. Fundamentally, brain
plasticity was observed where the magnitude of change of brain activity
correlated with the amount of change in language function. Meinzer, Djundja,
Barthel, Elbert and Rockstroh (2005) replicated Pulvermüller et al.’s (2001)
study with a larger sample. They also evaluated an additional group (CIATplus)
which included written materials and photographs of everyday situations and
incorporated a training module including a participant’s relative in daily one-toone
communication exercises. The findings supported that of Pulvermüller et
al.’s (2001) study and reported that recovery was equally found among
participants irrespective of age, severity of aphasia and time post-onset. Results
were stable at a six-month follow-up. Patients and relatives both reported an
increased level of comprehension and amount of communication used in
everyday communication. Functional improvement was more significant in
participants in CIATplus group who received additional training in daily
communication. Meinzer et al. (2005) consider that it is the intensity in therapy
that appears to be crucial for the successful rehabilitation of chronic aphasia as
no further improvement of language function was noted during follow-up
assessment despite receiving non-intensive language therapy. They assert that
in the chronic stages of aphasia any validated language intervention may benefit
from an intensive treatment programme.
This evidence indicates that plasticity induced restoration of adult language
function does occur (Meinzer et al., 2004; Pulvermüller et al. 2001 and Weiller et
al. 1995) and that without experience-dependent guidance i.e. therapeutic
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