Background/Aims: The purpose of this investigation was to examine patterns of episodes of word retrieval failure in a group of adults who suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI).The Test of Adolescent/Adult Word Finding (German, 1990) was administered to 20 adults who experienced TBI as the result of motor vehicle accident. The tool provides extensive naming opportunities, varied naming tasks, and frequency of occurrence of stimulus items does not change throughout each task. Methods & Procedures: Episodes of word retrieval failures were investigated relative to the occurrence of 1, 2, 3, and 4-plus consecutive word retrieval failures on the TAWF for participants who exhibited a word retrieval deficit (standard score below 85). Fourteen of the 20 participants had standard scores below this normal range. These participants were classified according to the three patterns (Fleeting, Clustered, Extended) developed by Hough (2007) regarding episodes of word retrieval failure. Main Contribution/Conclusions: Results revealed that most TBI participants who demonstrated a word retrieval deficit displayed primarily a Fleeting pattern (10) relative to word retrieval failure. A few participants exhibited an Extended retrieval pattern (4). Pattern of retrieval failure appeared to be related to severity of word retrieval deficit.
