Video-Implemented Script Training in a Bilingual Spanish–English Speaker With Aphasia

• Published in: Journal of speech, language, and hearing research Vol. 62; no. 7; pp. 2295 - 2316
• Main Authors: Grasso, Stephanie M., Cruz, Diana F., Benavidez, Rosa, Peña, Elizabeth D., Henry, Maya L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Analysis; Aphasia; Bilingualism; Census of Population; Cognates; Communication; English; English language; Evidence; Fluency; Generalization; Grammaticality; Intelligibility; Interference (Language); Intervention; Language; Language Acquisition; Language disorders; Language Processing; Linguistic complexity; Linguistics; Monolingualism; Multilingualism; Naming; Natural language processing; Outcome Measures; Outcomes of Treatment; Phonology; Romance Languages; Scripts; Semantics; Semiotics; Spanish; Spanish language; Speech Improvement; Speech Language Pathology; Speech production; Speech rate; Speech Therapy; Stroke; Video Technology; Texas; United States > US
• ISSN: 1092-4388; 1558-9102; 1558-9102
• DOI: 10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-18-0048

Purpose: This study examines the utility of Video-Implemented Script Training for Aphasia (VISTA) for improving speech production and fluency in a Spanish-English bilingual speaker with aphasia. Method: In this single-subject, multiple-baseline intervention study, VISTA was utilized to facilitate fluent and intelligible speech through training with an audiovisual speech model. Scripts were developed from personalized topics of interest, and training stimuli were tailored for speech rate and linguistic complexity. One trained script per language contained a high proportion of cognates in order to examine the potential for enhancing cross-linguistic transfer. Primary and secondary outcome measures for trained and untrained scripts were percent correct and intelligible scripted words, grammatical errors, speech rate, and total percent intelligibility. Results: R. C. showed significant improvement in accuracy, intelligibility, and grammaticality of trained scripts. Results revealed cross-linguistic transfer for both languages of treatment. A significantly greater magnitude of cross-language transfer was observed for scripts that were not cognate dense. Conclusions: VISTA is a viable treatment method for bilingual individuals with aphasia. Cross-linguistic transfer was diminished when incorporating scripts with a high proportion of cognates; however, this may not be true for all bilingual individuals with aphasia and should be explored with additional participants.