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Word Finding Skills

Kathryn Schopfer, MS

December 1, 2003

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Question

Are there any documented methods to improve word-finding skills? Is there a way to measure progress with word-finding skills short of standardized assessment? 

Answer

A rose is not a rose is not.... structured confrontation naming tasks are good initially to help the client learn or ''dust off'' practical ''search and retrieve'' strategies. Provides the client with some succerss within a very frustrating sitaution. Once strategy use education is completed at this level, the real work begins. You have to look at communication intent, specific methods we use to organize our thoughts to serve that established purpose (ex. defining, giving directions/instructions, explaining and educating,etc. ).The next part of the puzzle involves the situations the person gets into: who he/she is talking to, when and where. External distractions, performance anxiety with the communication partner,intrinsic motivation to talk in that specific instance, overall fatigue factor and on and on.As a professional group, we are beginning to consider all of these critical factors when working with our clients. I do believe the more we know and experience as clinicians, the harder it is to establish viable goals that really reflect what our clients need/ want to communicate within their individual lives. Naming pictures with ''X'' percent accuracy just doesn''t cut it anymore as a functional goal or outcome. Just my thoughts.


kathryn schopfer

Kathryn Schopfer, MS


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