Abstract
In this study, two patients with mild semantic dementia undertook name-relearning training. Both patients were able to name the target items after the training, even if they could not name them before the training. Naming performance of one patient gradually declined after she discontinued the training. In contrast, the naming performance of the other patient, with milder naming disturbance, was maintained after the discontinuation of training. These results indicate that relearning training has the potential to maintain naming function in mild SD patients. In the next stage of the study, we examined more effective verbal training procedures for SD patients. We found evidence suggesting that training with words which the patients used in their daily lives generated greater improvements. These results suggest that (i) verbal training for SD patients was effective and long-lasting when their naming disturbances were mild and (ii) that the most suitable training method and contents for individual patients should be provided.
