Word retrieval of aphasic adults.

This study determined (1) the types of word retrieval behaviors employed by aphasic adults in conversation and (2) the degree to which identified behaviors were successful in prompting production of intended words. Five retrieval behaviors--delay, semantic association, phonetic association, description, and generalization--were identified. It was possible to organize the retrieval behaviors of 18 aphasic subjects in a hierarchical order of efficiency. Use of a particular behavior and the success with which it facilitated production of an intended word appeared strongly related to severity of aphasia. Findings again bring to focus the significance of the associational processes to the problem of word retrieval in aphasia.