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Are Input and Output Language Networks Linked?: Evidence from the Verification Task Paradigm and its Role in Assessing Language Impairment After Stroke

Durfee, Alexandra Zezinka
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1573833017141002

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Speech and Hearing Science.
Language organization in the brain, specifically the relationship between input and output language processes, has been a topic of interest in psycho- and neurolinguistics for the past three decades. A paradigm that may prove to be useful for this continued investigation is the word-picture verification task (WPVT). The WPVT has been utilized with both typically aging adults and adults with aphasia, an acquired neurogenic language disorder. In the aphasia literature, WPVTs provide information on lexical-semantic processing and have been found to be more sensitive to auditory comprehension deficits compared to multiple choice tasks. To date, there is a dearth of information regarding the linguistic process(es) targeted by WPVTs and the extent to which the paradigm provides insight into lexical-phonological abilities. WPVTs may also serve a practical use. In speech-language pathology, a shift from the Wernicke-Lichtheim model to describing linguistic strengths and weaknesses is occurring. With this shift, more theoretically motivated assessments are needed to revise classification of language abilities for improved empirical study and therapy delivery. Aim: The current study aimed to elucidate the language processes engaged during WPVT completion and assess the efficacy of the paradigm as an aphasia language assessment. Method: Sixteen adults with chronic aphasia completed a battery of language assessments, including tasks that targeted phonological and semantic skills for comprehension and production. They also completed written and auditory WPVTs, wherein they responded via button press if the word and picture matched or did not match. This button press method eliminated the need for verbalized responses, which may be impacted by commonly co-occurring motor speech deficits. Results: WPVT accuracy was significantly positively correlated with measures of comprehension. Participants made more semantic errors across WPVTs compared to the number of semantic paraphasias produced on a confrontation naming task. More phonological paraphasias were produced during naming compared to phonological errors made on the aWPVT; however, there were no difference in rWPVT phonological errors and phonological paraphasias. WPVT performance was predictive of input semantic and phonological performance and of output semantic performance, as measured by standardized assessments. Language skills were predictive of picture naming and rWPVT accuracy, but motor speech impairment severity did not hold this predictive power. Discussion & Conclusion: Findings lend support for the WPVT as a measure of language comprehension, but the relationship between WPVT and language production remains unclear. One reason for the discrepant comprehension and production findings may be due to the underlying cognitive-linguistic process targeted (i.e., recognition versus recall memory). WPVTs appear superior in elucidating language skills in specific domains (i.e., comprehension, input/output semantic processing, input phonological processing) rather than measuring general language impairment. Against hypotheses, motor speech impairment was not predictive of confrontation naming performance, which was suspected to be influenced by the limited variability in severity of participants. Continued study of the WPVT is warranted to further understand the paradigm as a method of investigating language processing as well as a nonverbal language assessment tool for aphasia.
Stacy Harnish, PhD, CCC-SLP (Advisor)
Youkyung Bae, PhD (Committee Member)
Christina Roup, PhD, CCC-A (Committee Member)
132 p.
Speech Therapy
Language; Comprehension; Production; Aphasia; Language Assessment; Stroke; Semantics; Phonology

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Citations

  • Durfee, A. Z. (2019). Are Input and Output Language Networks Linked?: Evidence from the Verification Task Paradigm and its Role in Assessing Language Impairment After Stroke [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1573833017141002

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Durfee, Alexandra. Are Input and Output Language Networks Linked?: Evidence from the Verification Task Paradigm and its Role in Assessing Language Impairment After Stroke. 2019. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1573833017141002.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Durfee, Alexandra. "Are Input and Output Language Networks Linked?: Evidence from the Verification Task Paradigm and its Role in Assessing Language Impairment After Stroke." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1573833017141002

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1573833017141002
297
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.