Dose Considerations and Generalization Following Script Training for Poststroke Aphasia: A Randomized Factorial Clinical Trial.
Leora R Cherney, Laura E Kinsey, Erin E Blaze et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-site, single-blind, 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial examined how script length and session frequency affect treatment outcomes in 85 people with chronic poststroke aphasia. Participants completed 10 one-hour sessions of computer-based script training. There was no significant between-group difference associated with stimulus repetition, while massed practice performed better than distributed practice. Outcomes also varied by the interaction of script length and frequency: long scripts improved more with distributed than massed practice, and short scripts were better maintained at 6 weeks. Improvement from baseline to posttreatment was generally maintained at 6 weeks.
Key findings
- Massed practice performed better than distributed practice; stimulus repetition showed no significant between-group difference.
- Long scripts improved more with distributed than massed practice.
- Short scripts were better maintained than long scripts at 6-week follow-up.
- Participants generally improved from baseline to posttreatment, with gains maintained at 6 weeks.
Why it matters
The findings support script training for chronic poststroke aphasia while indicating that treatment dose is not simply a matter of increasing repetition. Session frequency and script length may interact with improvement and maintenance, so these parameters are relevant when interpreting outcomes and designing aphasia treatment. The results also distinguish immediate posttreatment gains from their maintenance over follow-up.
What to keep in mind
The trial was conducted at a single site, and follow-up extended only to 6 weeks after treatment.