Semantic and Lexical Selection

For a 79-year-old, 'Semantic and Lexical Selection' primarily revolves around maintaining cognitive agility, preventing age-related word-finding difficulties (anomia), and enhancing verbal fluency to support active communication and social engagement. Our selection prioritizes tools that offer structured, adaptive, and engaging practice directly targeting these linguistic functions, while also being user-friendly and non-stigmatizing for older adults. The 'Naming Therapy App' by Tactus Therapy is chosen as the primary item due to its clinical effectiveness and precise focus. Developed by speech-language pathologists, it employs evidence-based strategies like Semantic Feature Analysis, cueing hierarchies, and repetition exercises specifically designed to improve word retrieval and semantic organization. This directly addresses the core challenges in semantic and lexical selection that can emerge or be exacerbated in later life, aligning perfectly with our principles of Cognitive Reserve & Maintenance, Functional Communication & Social Engagement, and Adaptive & Accessible Design.

Implementation Protocol for a 79-year-old:

1. Initial Setup & Orientation: A caregiver, family member, or trained assistant should help set up the app on a tablet (iPad or Android) and guide the user through the interface. Focus on demonstrating how to select activities, adjust difficulty, and utilize built-in cues. Ensure the environment is quiet and free from distractions.
2. Regular Practice Schedule: Encourage daily sessions of 20-30 minutes, 5-7 times a week. Consistency is crucial for reinforcing neural pathways involved in word retrieval. Morning or early afternoon sessions are often ideal when cognitive fatigue is lower.
3. Targeted Activities: Emphasize the 'Describe' activity for practicing Semantic Feature Analysis (generating attributes of an item), and 'Naming Practice' for direct word retrieval with varying levels of cueing (e.g., phonemic, semantic cues). The 'Sort' activity can reinforce semantic categorization, aiding in organized lexical access.
4. Verbalization & Engagement: Encourage the user to vocalize their responses, even if incorrect, as this activates speech motor pathways and enhances engagement. Celebrate small successes and maintain a positive, supportive attitude.
5. Adaptive Challenge: Start with easier levels and gradually increase difficulty as the user demonstrates improved performance. Utilize the app's built-in progress tracking to monitor improvement and adjust goals. If frustration occurs, revert to an easier level or a different activity for a short period.
6. Real-World Transfer: Encourage the user to apply the learned strategies in daily conversations. For example, if they have trouble recalling a word, prompt them to think of its features (like they do in the 'Describe' activity) to facilitate retrieval. This bridges the gap between structured practice and functional communication.
7. Ergonomics & Comfort: Ensure the tablet is positioned comfortably to prevent neck strain, and good quality headphones are used for clear auditory input, especially if hearing is diminished. A stylus can aid precision if fine motor skills are a concern.