"Effects of Memory Association Devices and Attention Tasks on Name Reca" by Marianne Elaine Reichert

Date of Graduation

Spring 2010

Degree

Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders

Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Committee Chair

Klaas Bakker

Abstract

Individuals with dementia constitute the fastest-growing clinical population in speech-language pathology. Cognitive deficits present in dementia adversely affect overall communication abilities, and a specific skill compromised is name recall ability. Various memory training strategies have yielded somewhat positive results for name recall ability. As attention is also affected, a combination of memory and attention tasks might result in further gains. In this study, three individuals with dementia participated in seven sessions measuring name recall abilities for unfamiliar individuals. A multiple-baseline design was used to compare name recall abilities for different conditions. Results were compared to a concurrent study, in which three participants completed attention tasks and a combination of memory and attention tasks. Participants obtained fluctuating scores across sessions, with no group trend evident relative to the introduction of experimental conditions. One participant showed a positive trend during combined sessions. Participants in the concurrent study received scores with a general increasing trend. Limitations to the study are discussed, along with possible clinical implications.

Keywords

dementia, communication, name recall, memory tasks, attention tasks, combined attention-memory tasks

Subject Categories

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Copyright

© Marianne Elaine Reichert

Campus Only

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