Treatment of Metaphor Interpretation Deficits Subsequent to Traumatic Brain Injury

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kristine Lundgren, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Objective: To improve oral interpretation of metaphors by patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Design: Both single subject experimental design and group analysis.Setting: Patients’ homes.Participants: Eight adult patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury sustained 3 to 20 years before testing.Intervention: The Metaphor Training Program consisted typically of 10 baseline sessions, 3 to 9 1-hour sessions of structured intervention, and 10 posttraining baseline sessions. Training used extensive practice with simple graphic displays to illustrate semantic associations.Main Outcome Measures: Quality of orally produced metaphor interpretation and accuracy of line orientation judgments served as dependent measures obtained during baseline, training, posttraining, and at a 3- to 4-month follow-up. Untrained line orientation judgments provided a control measure.Results: Group data showed significant improvement in metaphor interpretation but not in line orientation. Six of 8 patients individually demonstrated significant improvement in metaphor interpretation. Gains persisted for 3 of the 6 patients at the 3- to 4-month follow-up.Conclusion: The Metaphor Training Program can improve cognitive-communication performance for individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Results support the potential for treating patients’ residual cognitive-linguistic deficits.

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 28(6), 446-52
Language: English
Date: 2013
Keywords
language and communication impairment, metaphor, treatment

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