title: Training in rapid auditory processing ameliorates auditory comprehension in aphasic patients: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: Experimental studies have often reported close associations between rapid auditory processing and language competency. The present study was aimed at improving auditory comprehension in aphasic patients following specific training in the perception of temporal order (TO) of events. We tested 18 aphasic patients showing both comprehension and TO perception deficits. Auditory comprehension was assessed by the Token Test, phonemic awareness and Voice-Onset-Time Test. The TO perception was assessed using auditory Temporal-Order-Threshold, defined as the shortest interval between two consecutive stimuli, necessary to report correctly their before-after relation. Aphasic patients participated in eight 45-minute sessions of either specific temporal training (TT, n=11) aimed to improve sequencing abilities, or control non-temporal training (NT, n=7) focussed on volume discrimination. The TT yielded improved TO perception; moreover, a transfer of improvement was observed from the time domain to the language domain, which was untrained during the training. The NT did not improve either the TO perception or comprehension in any language test. These results are in agreement with previous literature studies which proved ameliorated language competency following the TT in language-learning-impaired or dyslexic children. Our results indicated for the first time such benefits also in aphasic patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 3 Pasteur Str., Warsaw, Poland; University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 19/31 Chodakowska Str., Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: e.szelag@nencki.gov.pl.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szelag
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 3 Pasteur Str., Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewandowska
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 3 Pasteur Str., Warsaw, Poland; Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, 1 Zgrupowania AK "Kampinos" Str., Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wolak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieski Str., Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seniow
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 9 Sobieski Str., Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poniatowska
authors.affiliation: Human Science Center, Ludwig-Maximilian University, 11 Prof.-Max-Lange-Platz, Bad Tölz, Germany; Institute of Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pöppel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 3 Pasteur Str., Warsaw, Poland; University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 19/31 Chodakowska Str., Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szymaszek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000150:complications*; D001304:Auditory Diseases, Central / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013067:Speech Perception; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Acoustic temporal training; Aphasia; Auditory comprehension; Neurorehabilitation; Rapid auditory processing; Restoration of function; Stroke