The influence of situational context on naming performance in aphasic syndromes

Abstract

This study examined the influence of two situational contexts on the naming performances of 40 aphasic patients: single-word confrontation naming and picture description. The subjects were evenly distributed among the syndromes of Broca's, Wernicke's, conduction, and amnesic aphasia. The two naming tasks used were each comprised of the same 40 target words. Patients with Broca's aphasia performed significantly better on confrontation naming than when naming on the picture-description task. In contrast, patients with Wernicke's aphasia displayed significantly better performance on the picture-description task. Although individual patients in the groups of amnesic and conduction aphasia were also influenced by the nature of the naming task being performed, neither of these groups showed a consistent pattern of performance differences on the two tasks. Patterns of naming errors produced within each group of aphasics were also examined. Differential error patterns were determined for these four diagnostic groups. The results are discussed in relation to neuropsychological concepts of aphasia and the naming process. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications are also addressed.