Generalization of word retrieval following semantic feature treatment.

OBJECTIVES The effectiveness of a Semantic Feature Treatment (SFT) at increasing word retrieval accuracy of untreated words was examined in relation to the influence of the number of shared features with treated words. Generalization of these improvements to discourse was also examined. METHODS Three adults with chronic aphasia completed 12 SFT sessions. Generalization to untreated words with many shared features (SFs) and with no shared features (NSFs), as well as generalization to discourse tasks, was analyzed. RESULTS All participants improved in word retrieval accuracy for treated words. Accuracy of retrieving untreated words improved for two participants. Retrieval accuracy for untreated words with SF improved more than for words with NSF. Generalization of improvements to discourse tasks occurred for two participants. CONCLUSIONS SFT improves word retrieval accuracy for some people with aphasia during confrontation naming and discourse tasks. Generalization may be slightly higher for untreated words with SFs than untreated words with NSFs. Future research is needed to further investigate the effect shared features have on generalization of improvements, and to determine candidacy for SFT.