Translanguaging in bilingual aphasia treatment: introducing TAbSANT (Translanguaging Abstract Semantic Associative Network Treatment), an innovative framework for multiple language recovery

Aims In this article we introduce TAbSANT (Translanguaging Abstract Semantic Associative Network Treatment). This translanguaging-based treatment is derived from and expands upon AbSANT (Abstract Semantic Associative Network Treatment), a theoretically motivated anomia intervention for persons with aphasia.Methods and Procedures We report on two Spanish-English bilingual persons with aphasia. Cristina was trained on Spanish AbSANT and TAbSANT. Eduardo was trained on BAbSANT (Bilingual Abstract Semantic Associative Network Treatment) and TAbSANT. AbSANT and BAbSANT are delivered in single-language contexts, whereas TAbSANT is delivered in a mixed-language context. We predicted that 1a) training abstract words in a single-language context results in direct training effects and within-language generalization to concrete words, whereas training concrete words results only in direct training effects; 1b) training abstract words in one language results in cross-language generalization to abstract and concrete words in the untrained language; 2a) training abstract words in a translanguaging context results in direct training effects and generalization to untrained concrete words; and 2b) that training effects in the translanguaging context is equally or more effective than single-language context training.Results Results confirmed that for one participant, training words in a single-language context resulted in direct training effects and within-language generalization to concrete words. Regarding TAbSANT, results revealed that it is an effective treatment that is more effective than treatment delivered in a single-language context. Additionally, Eduardo presented with differential language loss (associated with language control impairment) and Cristina presented with parallel language loss (associated with intact language control). While Cristina responded to treatment delivered in both single- and mixed-language contexts, Eduardo responded only to treatment delivered in a mixed-language context.Conclusions These findings suggest that mixed-language treatment (which requires less language control and fewer cognitive demands compared to single-language treatment) is just as effective as single-language treatment and that mixed-language treatment may be more beneficial for some patient profiles.