Studies have documented the benefits of script training for functional communication in aphasia, but few have examined whether script training can remediate underlying linguistic deficits. Repeated script practice may facilitate structural priming and increased usage of practiced syntactic structures over time. We examined the effects of script training with embedded syntactic targets on the ability of participants with progressive agrammatic aphasia to accurately produce target syntactic structures in constrained tasks and connected speech. 

Three participants with progressive agrammatic aphasia participated. Six scripts were developed and target syntactic structures were embedded into each script. Twice weekly script training sessions (total during of six weeks) targeted memorization and conversational usage of scripts, complemented by 30 minutes of daily unison script production practice with a video model. No explicit training of syntactic structures was provided.  Syntax production probes were administered at pre- and post-treatment for each target structure. Connected speech samples were collected at each time point and frequency of occurrence for each target structure in spontaneous speech samples was calculated. 

Production of correct, intelligible scripted words for all trained topics reached a criterion of 90% accuracy after undergoing treatment. Performance on structured syntax probes improved significantly for one of two structures for two participants, and production of target structures in spontaneous speech increased for all but one target structure across all participants. Findings support the utility of implicit modes of training for addressing syntax production in agrammatic progressive aphasia. This is consistent with evidence of implicit learning and positive effects of implicit priming in treatment for stroke-induced agrammatic aphasia.