Thematic Language Stimulation - USHA

Assessment of Impairment begins..
! Evaluates deficits on
standardized measures.
! Derives information
about patient process
during testing
– Less emphasis on the
score
– More emphasis on how
he got it
Morganstein & Certner-Smith, 2011
S.Morganstein & M.Certner-­‐Smith
Assessing the Impairment (Deficit)
! BDAE
! MTDDA
! WAB
! PICA
Morganstein & Certner-Smith, 2011
S.Morganstein & M.Certner-­‐Smith
Assessment beyond
language…
! The assessment process parameters beyond
language include:
– Cognition: attention, abstract thinking,
– Behavior: initiation, flexibility, problem solving, etc
– Visual Considerations: hemianopsia, scanning
issues, acuity
– Psychological considerations: sense of humor,
affect
Morganstein & Certner-Smith, 2011
S.Morganstein & M.Certner-­‐Smith
! Probes strategies for
task success
! Derive information about
functional
communication and its
enhancement.
More Assessment
Morganstein & Certner-Smith, 2011
S.Morganstein & M.Certner-­‐Smith
Process Assessment
! Quality as well as quantity:
– What is he doing?
– How is he doing it?
– Why is he doing it that way?
– What is the time factor?
– Is he using strategies that succeed? That fail?
“Batteries are for cars,
Not for people.” Edith Kaplan
Morganstein & Certner-Smith, 2011
S.Morganstein & M.Certner-­‐Smith
Strategy probes for TLS
! Aphasia testing using a TLS mindset requires
strategy probes
– Naming/word retrieval (what type of cuing helps,
phonemic or semantic?)
– Repetition (does repetition increase linguistic
accuracy?)
– Oral reading (does oral reading increase awareness
of errors & afford an opportunity for self correction?)
– Etc……
Morganstein & Certner-Smith, 2011
S.Morganstein & M.Certner-­‐Smith
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