Effects of Memory Association Devices and Attention Tasks on Name Recall Abilities in Individuals with Dementia: Memory Alone Versus a Combination of Memory and Attention
Individuals with dementia constitute the fastest-growing clinical population in speech-language pathology. Cognitive deficits present in dementia adversely affect overall communication abilities, and a specific skill compromised is name recall ability. Various memory training strategies have yielded somewhat positive results for name recall ability. As attention is also affected, a combination of memory and attention tasks might result in further gains. In this study, three individuals with dementia participated in seven sessions measuring name recall abilities for unfamiliar individuals. A multiple-baseline design was used to compare name recall abilities for different conditions. Results were compared to a concurrent study, in which three participants completed attention tasks and a combination of memory and attention tasks. Participants obtained fluctuating scores across sessions, with no group trend evident relative to the introduction of experimental conditions. One participant showed a positive trend during combined sessions. Participants in the concurrent study received scores with a general increasing trend. Limitations to the study are discussed, along with possible clinical implications
