eprintid: 1516139 rev_number: 30 eprint_status: archive userid: 608 dir: disk0/01/51/61/39 datestamp: 2017-05-12 14:59:21 lastmod: 2021-10-01 23:46:19 status_changed: 2017-05-12 14:59:21 type: article metadata_visibility: show creators_name: Ebbels, SH creators_name: Nicoll, H creators_name: Clark, B creators_name: Eachus, B creators_name: Gallagher, AL creators_name: Horniman, K creators_name: Jennings, M creators_name: McEvoy, K creators_name: Nimmo, L creators_name: Turner, G title: Effectiveness of semantic therapy for word-finding difficulties in pupils with persistent language impairments: a randomized control trial ispublished: pub divisions: UCL divisions: B02 divisions: C07 divisions: D05 note: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. abstract: BACKGROUND: Word-finding difficulties (WFDs) in children have been hypothesized to be caused at least partly by poor semantic knowledge. Therefore, improving semantic knowledge should decrease word-finding errors. Previous studies of semantic therapy for WFDs are inconclusive. AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness of semantic therapy for secondary school-aged pupils with WFDs using a randomized control trial with blind assessment. METHODS & PROCEDURES: Fifteen participants with language impairments and WFDs (aged 9;11–15;11) were randomly assigned to a therapy versus waiting control group. In Phase 1 the therapy group received two 15-min semantic therapy sessions per week for 8 weeks with their usual speech and language therapist. Therapy for each participant targeted words from one of three semantic categories (animals, food, clothes). All participants were tested pre- and post-phase 1 therapy on the brief version of the Test of Adolescent Word Finding (TAWF), semantic fluency and the Test of Word Finding in Discourse (TWFD). In Phase 2 the waiting control group received the same therapy as the original therapy group, which received therapy targeted at other language areas. Testing after Phase 2 aimed to establish whether the waiting control group made similar progress to the original therapy group and whether the original therapy group maintained any gains. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: The original therapy group made significant progress in standard scores on the TAWF (d= 0.94), which was maintained 5 months later. However, they made no progress on the semantic fluency or discourse tests. Participants in the waiting control group did not make significant progress on the TAWF in Phase 1 when they received no word-finding therapy. However, after Phase 2, when they received the therapy, they also made significant progress (d= 0.81). The combined effect of therapy over the two groups was d= 1.2. The mean standard scores on the TAWF were 67 pre-therapy and 77 post-therapy. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: Four hours of semantic therapy on discrete semantic categories led to significant gains on a general standardized test of word finding, enabling the participants to begin to close the gap between their performance and that of their typically developing peers. These gains were maintained after 5 months. A small amount of therapy can lead to significant gains even with secondary aged pupils with severe language difficulties. However, further studies are needed to find ways of improving word-finding abilities in discourse. date: 2012-01 date_type: published official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00073.x oa_status: green full_text_type: other language: eng primo: open primo_central: open_green verified: verified_manual elements_id: 1159618 doi: 10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00073.x lyricists_name: Ebbels, Susan lyricists_id: SHEBB62 actors_name: Dewerpe, Marie actors_id: MDDEW97 actors_role: owner full_text_status: public publication: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders volume: 47 number: 1 pagerange: 35-51 issn: 1368-2822 citation: Ebbels, SH; Nicoll, H; Clark, B; Eachus, B; Gallagher, AL; Horniman, K; Jennings, M; ... Turner, G; + view all <#> Ebbels, SH; Nicoll, H; Clark, B; Eachus, B; Gallagher, AL; Horniman, K; Jennings, M; McEvoy, K; Nimmo, L; Turner, G; - view fewer <#> (2012) Effectiveness of semantic therapy for word-finding difficulties in pupils with persistent language impairments: a randomized control trial. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders , 47 (1) pp. 35-51. 10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00073.x <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00073.x>. Green open access document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1516139/3/Ebbels_accepted%20WFD%20study%20Ebbels%20et%20al.pdf