Our main objective is to investigate if and how discourse comprehension of individuals with aphasia is influenced by the occurrence of direct speech constructions. Furthermore, we aim to investigate whether there is an effect of the underlying…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
neurologische aandoeningen: afasie
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Performance on a behavioural test investigating discourse comprehension.
Secondary outcome
For each participant, the score of the the Token Test (as included in the
Aachen Aphasia Test, Graetz, De Bleser, Willmes & Heeschen, 1992) will be used
(0-50). This test discriminates between aphasic and non-aphasic individuals,
and the final score is an indicator for the severity of aphasia.
Background summary
In this study, the effects of direct speech constructions on comprehension by
aphasic and non-brain-damaged (NBD) individuals will be investigated. Direct
speech constructions are often claimed to report speech or thought in its
original form (i.e., quotes), as phrased by the first speaker. However,
previous studies pointed out that direct speech is rarely an accurate
repetition of former speech: people tend to remember the meaning rather than
the form of a message (Lehrer, 1989). In addition, direct speech constructions
can be used for various purposes, and do not necessarily refer to something
that has been said or thought. They can also be used to refer to something that
could or should be said, or to a hypothetical or imaginary scenario or
situation. Using a demonstration rather than a description, direct speech
provides speakers with a natural vehicle to present something in a dramatic and
vivid way (Li, 1986). Direct speech constructions are often accompanied by
speakers* use of gesture, body movement, and prosody. Because of these
additional *levels* of communication, aphasic listeners may be better at
understanding direct as compared to indirect speech constructions. In
particular those individuals who have problems retrieving the meaning of
sentences due to grammatical impairments may benefit from these additional
sources of information. This work is part of the research programme The
Conversation Frame: Linguistic Forms and Communicative Functions in Discourse,
which is financed by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
(NWO).
Study objective
Our main objective is to investigate if and how discourse comprehension of
individuals with aphasia is influenced by the occurrence of direct speech
constructions. Furthermore, we aim to investigate whether there is an effect of
the underlying disorder (lexical vs. grammatical impairments).
Study design
An experimental approach will be used. Individuals with aphasia will be
compared to a control group, and within the aphasic group a comparison will be
drawn between individuals with a lexical impairment and individuals with a
grammatical impairment.
Study burden and risks
There are no risks associated with the tests during this study. The study must
be carried out with individuals with aphasia in order to examine the effects.
Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 26
Groningen 9712 EK
NL
Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 26
Groningen 9712 EK
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Healthy controls Inclusion criteria - age between 18 and 80 - right-handed - native speaker of Dutch Patients: Inclusion criteria: - aphasic due to an acute non-congenital brain damage, like CVA or contusio cerebri - native speaker of Dutch - age between 18 and 80 - minimally three months post onset - Token Test error score between 7 and 40.
Exclusion criteria
Healthy controls - neurological diseases or language and/or speech problems - hearing or visual problems that influence the administration of the test patients: - psychiatric diseases - cognitive problems that influence the administration of the test (to be judged by the treating psychologist) - visual or hearing problems that influence the administration of the test - Token Test error score lower than 7 or higher than 40
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL40789.042.12 |