Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations for Working with Individuals With Dementia: Spaced-Retrieval Training
Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology
Hopper, T., Mahendra, N., et al. (2005).
Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, 13(4), xxvii-xxxiv.
This systematic review investigates the use of spaced-retrieval training in individuals with dementia. This review is part of a series of reports from the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences focused on the assessment and management of individuals with Alzheimer-type dementia.
Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; Department of Veterans Affairs
Through September 2002
Not further specified
15
"Although the results of the reviewed studies were overwhelmingly positive, methodological shortcomings warrant cautious interpretation of the findings. Lack of specification of participant characteristics decreases generalizability of the findings. Also, more attention must be paid to including interrater reliability judgments in the research examining the efficacy and effectiveness of [spaced-retrieval] training" (p. xxxii).
<p>Expected outcomes of <span style="line-height: 1.5;">spaced-retrieval training</span><span style="line-height: 1.5;"> include:</span></p>
<ul>
<li>"improvement in the acquisition, retention and generalization of trained information and/or skills" (p. xxxii),</li>
<li>retention of learned information ranging from 1 day to several months post,</li>
<li>"generalization of learned information and/or skills to specific contexts and situations" (p. xxxii), and</li>
<li>no change in global cognitive or memory performance.</li>
</ul>
Implementation of spaced-retrieval training should be weekly or considered "more frequently depending on the nature of the association being learned and the individual characteristics of the client" (p. xxxii).
<p>Findings suggest that appropriate candidates for spaced retrieval training are individuals with:</p>
<ul>
<li>declarative memory impairments ranging from mild to severe,</li>
<li>the ability to participate in structured training tasks, and</li>
<li>sufficient hearing and vision.</li>
</ul>
