Long-Term Recovery of Naming Abilities in Individuals with Aphasia

Abstract

A universal characteristic of aphasia is anomia, the impairment of naming abilities. The Boston Naming Test (BNT) is frequently used to measure change in response to treatment over short intervals. It is unclear, however, how much change can be expected over long periods of time. This study examined long-term recovery of naming abilities using BNT scores from 52 individuals who participated in clinical and research settings at the University of Arizona. Each individual’s change on the BNT was tracked over the course of their participation, allowing for calculation of the extent and rate of change in naming performance. In addition, independent variables were evaluated for their predictive value relative to naming performance over time. There was significant improvement in naming on the BNT, regardless of age, education, and initial time post onset. The results indicate that for individuals who continue to participate in a rehabilitation context, improvement can be expected long after the onset of anomia.