Maximizing Generalization of Combined Treatment for Mild Aphasia and Apraxia: Evidence From Three Case Studies.

PURPOSE: Approximately 44% of individuals with chronic aphasia also present with apraxia of speech, necessitating integrated treatment approaches to optimize recovery. This study examined the effects of a combined treatment protocol, leveraging Treatment of Underlying Forms (TUF) and a modified version of Sound Production Treatment (SPT), on language and speech outcomes in individuals with mild aphasia and apraxia.

METHOD: Three participants underwent treatment involving alternating and combined TUF and modified SPT. The pre- and posttreatment assessments included standardized and treatment-specific speech and language measures.

RESULTS

The results indicated significant improvements in the production of both trained and untrained items with similar syntactic and articulatory complexities, whereas generalization to simpler targets varied among participants.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that combined TUF/modified SPT may enhance speech and language outcomes, warranting further investigation of individual variability in treatment responses and generalization patterns.