Language recovery in aphasia: effect of systematic filmed programmed instruction

Abstract

This project investigated the effect of systematic filmed programmed instruction on language recovery of aphasic subjects with markedly disturbed communication skills. Fourteen male veterans between 32 and 69 years of age who had suffered cerebrovascular accidents were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group of 7 patients each. All subjects had completed elementary school; the majority had attended high school and several had attended college. Each subject was receiving and continued to receive speech therapy. In addition, the experimental subjects received supplementary filmed programmed instruction while the control group viewed slides, attended bibliotherapy and engaged in other nonprogrammed, activity. Each subject submitted to pretests, midtests, posttests of reading recognition and comprehension, figure background, visual learning, visual closure, and vocabulary. Study of the results and statistical analysis of the data did not show significant improvement either due to speech therapy or filmed programmed instruction for these subjects. The results of this project cannot be generalized because of limitations of number, subject categories, widespread time since onset, and for the experimental group, the filmed material utilized.