A verbal and non-verbal treatment comparison study in aphasia

Treatment comparison studies in aphasia that have incorporated group designs have generally shown few differences between treatments (Sarno et al. 1970, Wertz et al. 1981, Shewan and Kertesz 1984, Hartman and Landau 1987). On the other hand, single-case within-subject design treatment comparison studies have generally shown distinct differences between treatments (Thompson and McReynolds 1986, Loverso et al. 1989, Kearns and Yedor 1991). Results from these studies indicate that direct production treatment is better than auditory-visual stimulation treatment to improve wb-question production (Thompson and McReynolds 1986), clinician-delivered treatment is more efficient than microcomputer–clinician-assisted treatment (Loverso et al. 19891, and divergent treatment is better than convergent treatment for improving the content of communication (Kearns and Yedor 1991). These single-case within-subject design studies have provided much needed detailed information regarding the effects of specific treatments.