
Oral Reading for Language in Aphasia (ORLA)
- Level 1: 3-5 word sentences, 1st grade reading level
- Level 2: 8-12 words (1-2 sentences), 3rd grade reading level
- Level 3: 15-30 words (2-3 sentences), 6th grade reading level
- Level 4: 50-100 word paragraph, 6th grade reading level
How does dyslexia affect oral language?
- a dislike of reading
- the inability to read out loud
- being very slow to copy things down
- difficulty spelling
Does aphasia affect the tongue?
Signs and symptoms of aphasia vary depending on the portion of the brain affected, extent of the area affected and type of aphasia. Possible symptoms include: Trouble naming objects, places, events or people even though they are known to the person (“tip of the tongue” phenomenon)
Does oral language instruction improve literacy?
Oral language provides the foundation for literacy development. English language learners (ELLs) need daily opportunities to learn and practice oral English in order for their literacy skills to flourish. ELLs learn English primarily by listening to language in use around them, while using context to figure out what the spoken words mean.
Are there different kinds of aphasia?
There are different types of aphasia. Each can cause language issues that range from mild to serious. But the verbal expressions can mostly be categorized as fluent or nonfluent aphasia. Fluent aphasia. You may be able to produce speech that contains connected sentences. But the sentences, while linked, may lack proper meaning.

What is oral re reading?
The Treatment: Multiple Oral Re-Reading (MOR) The idea is that by reading a passage over and over, the meaning and grammar of the passage help to facilitate recognizing whole words, in a top-down learning approach. The focus is on the fluency of oral reading, rather than on reading comprehension.
Is reading good for aphasia?
Oral Reading for Language in Aphasia (ORLA) is a reading treatment for people with aphasia. It focuses on reading full sentences rather than single words. The goal of using sentences instead of single words is to improve the reader's intonation and prosody.
Can people with aphasia read aloud?
Some people with aphasia can use books read aloud to follow along with a paper copy, but this is usually too difficult and frustrating. There are many different levels of reading, so even if you think your loved one "has no reading", you might be surprised!
What is script training for aphasia?
Script training in aphasia is a treatment approach that focuses on improving communication in everyday activities. It typically involves the repeated practice of words, phrases, and sentences embedded within a monologue or dialogue that is individualized to the person with aphasia.
How does aphasia impact reading?
Reading difficulties are a common feature of aphasia, including oral reading and reading comprehension problems and reduced reading speed (Knollman-Porter et al., 2015. (2015). Reading experiences and use of supports by people with chronic aphasia.
Does aphasia affect reading and writing?
Aphasia is classified as a language disorder as it affects the left side of the brain. Damage to this part of the brain can lead to problems with language and comprehension. Aphasia can make it hard to understand when others are speaking to you, as well as cause problems with speaking and reading, and writing.
How do patients with aphasia communicate?
Don't “talk down” to the person with aphasia. Give them time to speak. Resist the urge to finish sentences or offer words. Communicate with drawings, gestures, writing and facial expressions in addition to speech.
How does aphasia affect language and reading comprehension?
Previous studies of sentence comprehension in non-brain-damaged controls and people with aphasia generate the prediction that both reading and listening times would be longer in the verb in object vs. subject cleft sentences.
How does Broca's aphasia affect reading?
Written Language in Broca's Aphasia In line with their spoken language abilities, individuals with Broca's aphasia often find that they can read better than they can write. Reading aloud can prove difficult, but comprehension when reading silently is usually better.
How long is script training?
Time for script mastery ranged from five to eleven sessions (Youmans et al., 2005). Both participants mastered all three scripts with success rate of 97-100% accuracy in 25 and 26 sessions, respectively (Youmans et al., 2005). Once a script was mastered, generalization training was initiated.
What are scripts in speech therapy?
Scripting is the repetition of words, phrases, or sounds from other people's speech. Most commonly scripting phrases and sounds are from movies, tv, or other sources like books or people they interact with. Scripting is especially common in children on the spectrum who are learning to talk.
How can conduction aphasia be improved?
The primary treatment for conduction aphasia is speech therapy. Specifically, speech therapists use sentence repetition therapy, in which each week the patient must practice a set of sentences every day. At the end of the treatment, the patient often improves their ability to repeat words and phrases.
How can fluent aphasia be improved?
Aphasia Communication TipsMake sure you have the person's attention before you start.Minimize or eliminate background noise (TV, radio, other people).Keep your own voice at a normal level, unless the person has indicated otherwise.Keep communication simple, but adult. ... Give them time to speak.More items...
Can someone with aphasia live alone?
Myth 1) Aphasia is a rare disorder. One in three stroke survivors will have aphasia (at least initially), and it's estimated that more than 2.5 million people are living with aphasia in the US alone.
What is the prognosis of aphasia?
The prognosis for aphasia recovery depends in large part upon the underlying etiology. This has been best studied in cerebrovascular disease. Most patients with poststroke aphasia improve to some extent [1-4,14,15]. Most improvement occurs within the first few months and plateaus after one year.
How do patients with aphasia communicate?
You can encourage the person with aphasia to use other ways to communicate, such as: Pointing. Hand gestures. Drawings.
Where is the Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment located?
1Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Is ORLA a low intensity?
Low-intensity ORLA, delivered by computer to individuals with chronic nonfluent aphasia, is efficacious and may be equivalent to ORLA delivered by an SLP.
When was oral rereading first described?
First described in the literature by Moyer in 1979 , multiple oral re-reading has been studied in numerous case studies and small clinical trials over the past 40 years. There’s a detailed overview of MOR treatment and the evidence for this approach on the Communication Therapies for Adults blog.
What is multiple oral rereading?
Developed as a treatment for pure alexia, multiple oral re-reading (MOR) has shown promis ing results for many people with varying types of alexia. The goal of treatment is to improve the rate and accuracy at which people with alexia can read new text-level material, so it is perfect for those who complain of slow, effortful reading. The idea is that by reading a passage over and over, the meaning and grammar of the passage help to facilitate recognizing whole words, in a top-down learning approach. The focus is on the fluency of oral reading, rather than on reading comprehension.
What are the problems with reading?
Problems with reading that are acquired after a person has already learned to read are called alexia or acquired dyslexia. Alexia typically happens after damage to the language center of the brain from a stroke or brain injury, and it is a common part of aphasia. There are different types of alexia: 1 Surface alexia: regularly-spelled words (e.g. “mint”) are easier to read than irregular ones (e.g. “pint”) 2 Phonological alexia: familiar words are easier to read than unfamiliar ones, such as newly-coined words (e.g. “bling”) or non-words/pseduowords (e.g. “gillering”). 3 Deep alexia: in addition to many of the symptoms of phonological alexia, words may be misread as semantically-related words (e.g. “boat” for “ship”) as the meaning is recognized, but the sounds are not; grammatical function words (e.g. “for” or “the”) are particularly difficult as they have little meaning 4 Pure alexia: also known as pure word blindness, people with this type of alexia often have no problems in other areas of language except reading (alexia without agraphia). They must read letter-by-letter (LBL), which doesn’t always work, as words like “phone” are not pronounced as they are spelled. Reading is extremely slow and effortful.
What is pure alexia?
Pure alexia: also known as pure word blindness, people with this type of alexia often have no problems in other areas of language except reading (alexia without agraphia). They must read letter-by-letter (LBL), which doesn’t always work, as words like “phone” are not pronounced as they are spelled. Reading is extremely slow and effortful.
What is response elaboration treatment?
A step-by-step guide to doing Response Elaboration Treatment, an evidence-based speech therapy protocol to improve sentences for people with aphasia.
What is ARCS in speech therapy?
A step-by-step guide to doing Attentive Reading & Constrained Summarization (ARCS), an evidence-based speech therapy technique to improve discourse in aphasia.
What is it called when you can't read?
Problems with reading that are acquired after a person has already learned to read are called alexia or acquired dyslexia. Alexia typically happens after damage to the language center of the brain from a stroke or brain injury, and it is a common part of aphasia. There are different types of alexia:
How do you know if you have aphasia?
Common signs and symptoms of aphasia include the following: Impairments in Spoken Language Expression. Having difficulty finding words ( anomia) Speaking haltingly or with effort. Speaking in single words (e.g., names of objects) Speaking in short, fragmented phrases.
What is aphasia evidence?
Aphasia is an acquired neurogenic language disorder resulting from an injury to the brain—most typically, the left hemisphere. Aphasia involves varying degrees of impairment in four primary areas:
How does aphasia affect communication?
Aphasia symptoms vary in severity of impairment and impact on communication, depending on factors such as the location and extent of damage and the demands of the speaking situation. A person with aphasia often experiences both receptive and expressive spoken language difficulties—each to varying degrees.
How common is aphasia after stroke?
Aphasia after stroke is more common for older adults than younger adults (Ellis & Urban, 2016). Fifteen percent of individuals under the age of 65 experience aphasia after their first ischemic stroke; this percentage increases to 43% for individuals 85 years of age and older (Engelter et al., 2006).
What percentage of stroke survivors have aphasia?
Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia. According to the National Aphasia Association (n.d.), about 25%–40% of stroke survivors experience aphasia. Approximately 35%–40% of adults who are admitted to an acute-care hospital with a diagnosis of stroke are diagnosed with aphasia by the time they are discharged (Dickey et al., 2010; Pedersen, Jorgensen, Nakayama, Raaschou, & Olsen, 1995).
What is the most common cause of aphasia?
In most people, these language centers are located in the left hemisphere, but aphasia can also occur as a result of damage to the right hemisphere; this is often referred to as crossed aphasia, to denote that the right hemisphere is language dominant in these individuals. Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia.
What are the cognitive skills of a person with aphasia?
A person with aphasia often has relatively intact nonlinguistic cognitive skills, such as memory and executive function , although these and other cognitive deficits may co-occur with aphasia. A number of classification systems are used to describe the various presentations of aphasia.
How does aphasia improve reading?
The goal of the program is for the person with aphasia to improve their “whole word” reading abilities, by reading the text multiple times. This means the ability to read a word by sight, or not have to sound it out. For instance, when most people see the word “dog,” they do not sound out each letter in the word to read it.
How does MOR help with aphasia?
By using MOR, people with aphasia can increase the number of whole words that they recognize. This improves their reading speed and accuracy. The improvements are mostly seen in the words included in the practiced text. It may also improve speed and accuracy for common words that exist in other text the person is reading.
What is SLP in reading?
The SLP can help to select something that is at an appropriate level. MOR requires that the person have some basic reading skills. For instance, the person should be able to read many single words and have the ability to “sound out” words. The goal of the program is for the person with aphasia to improve their “whole word” reading abilities, ...
Why is multiple oral rereading important?
It is sometimes called Multiple Oral Re-reading. Its goal is to help people read faster and more accurately. This is beneficial for many people with aphasia who are able to read but notice that they read very slowly and tend to make errors.
Can a SLP read a passage at home?
This means they might need to read it at home between speech therapy sessions. This continues until the person is able to read the text at a certain rate that the SLP has set. Some SLPs might instead set a certain number of times that each passage should be read. They can then start over with a new passage.
Can a person with aphasia read multiple texts?
This is called the baseline level. Then, the person with aphasia continues to read the text aloud multiple times. The SLP can help as much as is needed – they can read the text together, or the SLP can help read words that the person with aphasia struggles with.
