| Abstract: |
We investigated change in aphasic patients' pragmatic abilities in conversation between 4 and 48 weeks post-onset. Ten patients were fluent and 10 were non-fluent. All patients received 6-8hrs of treatment each week for 44 weeks. However, 10 patients received group treatment with no direct manipulation of language impairment and 10 patients received individual stimulus-response treatment for language deficits. Mean conversational pragmatic ability for the 20 patients was 85% appropriate at 4 weeks post-onset. Mean performance after 44 weeks of treatment was 92% appropriate. There were no significant differences in pragmatic abilities between fluent and non-fluent patients, and overall improvement in pragmatic abilities was not influenced by the type of treatment group or individual. However, group-treated patients showed significant change in pragmatic abilities during the first 11 weeks of treatment, whereas individually treated patients did not. |
