Copying Single Words

SKILL: Writing

DIFFICULTY: 1/5

LEVELS: 12, based on word length and number of extra letters

BRIEF RATIONALE: This treatment works on visual letter matching in the context of single words.

In Copying Single Words, you will hear a word, see a picture, the written word, and letter tiles in random order. You will copy the word by dragging the letter tiles into place. You can expand the image using the arrows in the lower-right corner. The treatment auto-adjusts in difficulty based on performance.

HINT: A hint button is available in the lower-left corner of the screen to auto-fill the first empty space with the correct letter. Using the hint will mark the item as incorrect (as it was not answered independently), but may help you complete the written word.

FOR THE CLINICIAN:

Anagramming words can help improve written word production in individuals with severe aphasia and agraphia. During treatment, consider providing semantic information about the target word to strengthen associations between its meaning and graphemic representation. For example, you might say, “Tires are round and made of rubber.” You can also ask the patient to repeat the target word aloud to simultaneously reinforce spoken naming (Hashimoto, 2020). After the patient successfully anagrams the word, consider having them copy it three times, consistent with the Anagram, Copy, and Recall Treatment (ACRT) approach.

Selected References:

Ball, A. L., de Riesthal, M., Breeding, V. E., & Mendoza, D. E. (2011). Modified ACT and CART in severe aphasia. Aphasiology, 25(6–7), 836–848.
Beeson, P. M., Hirsch, F. M., & Rewega, M. A. (2002). Successful single-word writing treatment: Experimental analyses of four cases. Aphasiology, 16(4–6), 473–491.
Beeson, P. M., Rising, K., & Volk, J. (2003). Writing treatment for severe aphasia. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 46(5), 1038–1060.
Biddau, F., Brisotto, C., Innocenti, T., Ranaldi, S., Meneghello, F., D’Imperio, D., & Nordio, S. (2023). Speech and language therapy for acquired central dysgraphia in neurological patients: A systematic review to describe and identify trainings for clinical practice. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 32(2), 762–785.
Hashimoto, N. (2020). The use of written naming and repetition to treat naming deficits in Aphasia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(1), 216–237.