Date of Award

Summer 2022

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders

First Advisor

Dirk-Bart den Ouden

Abstract

Background: The relationship between linguistic and nonlinguistic cognition in persons with aphasia is complex and often debated in the literature. Furthermore, the impact of nonlinguistic cognition on aphasia treatment outcomes is unclear. The present study sought 1) to examine the relationship between WAIS scores and performance on a test of naming and 2) to examine the relationship between WAIS scores and change scores on a test of naming between baseline and post-treatment in persons with chronic aphasia.

Method: This retrospective study utilized data from participants (N=102) who were recruited for a multi-center cross-over trial (POLAR: Predicting Outcomes of Language Rehabilitation). Data from the POLAR behavioral test battery were analyzed including: PNT, WAIS Matrix Reasoning, and WAB-R. Six multiple linear regression models were created to examine the effects of nonlinguistic cognition on baseline naming performance and error type. An additional 6 multiple linear regression models were created to examine the effects of nonlinguistic cognition on changes in naming performance and error type. For a subset of participants (N=69), WAIS Matrix Reasoning scores were classified by test items that could be solved by visual pattern-matching or relational reasoning to further investigate the effect of nonlinguistic cognitive reserve.

Results: Consistent with the literature, WAB AQ and age at testing were the most consistent predictors of baseline and post-treatment naming performance. WAIS Matrix Reasoning scores did not predict baseline naming performance or post-treatment naming change scores. However, the effects of relational reasoning test items trended toward statistical significance for post-treatment naming change scores.

Conclusions: The relationship between linguistic and nonlinguistic cognition is complex and difficult to investigate in isolation. From this study there is limited evidence to suggest that nonlinguistic cognition is associated with measures of naming, nor does it greatly impact treatment-related naming gains. Future research should examine the impact of other aspects of nonlinguistic cognition, such as attention and working memory, on aphasia treatment response.

Rights

© 2022, Lillian Jarold

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