Disclaimer: this resource is intended for speech and language therapists and students of this profession. If you require therapy for aphasia please contact a speech and language therapist.
Errorless Learning
Summary: An approach based on the principle of Hebbian-based learning, which holds that when two neurons fire together their synaptic connection will be strengthened. Errorless learning tasks are designed so as to prevent the client making mistakes and seek, thereby, to avoid the reinforcement of errors. Errorless learning contrasts with errorful learning, where the client attempts a task and then receives feedback as to whether they were correct or not.
Example: An errorless approach to word retrieval therapy could be as follows:
1) The client is shown a picture of a target word. The therapist immediately provides the spoken and written form of the target word.
2) The client is then asked to repeat the word aloud twice.
3) The therapist again provides the spoken and written form of the target.
4) The client is asked to repeat the target an additional three times.
If the client should make an error in repetition, the therapist draws their attention to the spoken and written form of the target word and they are asked to again repeat the target multiple times.
Adapted from Conroy et al. (2009).
1) The client is shown a picture of a target word. The therapist immediately provides the spoken and written form of the target word.
2) The client is then asked to repeat the word aloud twice.
3) The therapist again provides the spoken and written form of the target.
4) The client is asked to repeat the target an additional three times.
If the client should make an error in repetition, the therapist draws their attention to the spoken and written form of the target word and they are asked to again repeat the target multiple times.
Adapted from Conroy et al. (2009).
Evidence Base: Errorless learning appears to be more effective than errorful learning in the area of memory impairment rehabilitation (Fillingham et al., 2005). However, several studies suggest that errorless and errorful approaches to anomia therapy are equally effective and have equivalent maintenance effects (e.g. Fillingham et al., 2005; McKissock & Ward, 2007). For example, a study contrasting an errorless approach with an errorful hierarchical cueing method found both approaches were equally effective at improving word finding (Conroy et al., 2009). No generalisation was observed to untreated targets.
Many participants report a preference for errorless learning over errorful learning (Fillingham, et al., 2006). An errorless approach may be more appropriate for clients who lack confidence, who often make mistakes, and whose memory is impaired to some degree (Ylvisanker et al., 2006).
Many participants report a preference for errorless learning over errorful learning (Fillingham, et al., 2006). An errorless approach may be more appropriate for clients who lack confidence, who often make mistakes, and whose memory is impaired to some degree (Ylvisanker et al., 2006).
References
Conroy, P., Sage. K., & Lambon Ralph, M.A., 2009. Errorless and errorful therapy for verb and noun naming in aphasia. Aphasiology, 23(11), 1311-1337
Fillingham, J.K., Sage, K., & Lambon Ralph, M.A., 2005. Treatment of anomia using errorless versus errorful learning: are frontal executive skills and feedback important? International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 40(4), 505-523
Fillingham, J.K., Sage, K., & Lambon Ralph, M.A., 2006. The treatment of anomia using errorless learning. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 16(2), 129-154
McKissock, S. & Ward, J., 2007. Do errors matter? Errorless and errorful learning in anomic picture naming. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 17(3), 355-373
Ylvisanker, M., Hibbard, M. & Feeney, T., 2006. LEARNet: A resource for teachers, clinicians, parents, and students by the brain injury association of New York State. Errorless learning. [online] Available at: <http://www.projectlearnet.org/tutorials/errorless_learning.html> [Accessed 29/12/2015]
Conroy, P., Sage. K., & Lambon Ralph, M.A., 2009. Errorless and errorful therapy for verb and noun naming in aphasia. Aphasiology, 23(11), 1311-1337
Fillingham, J.K., Sage, K., & Lambon Ralph, M.A., 2005. Treatment of anomia using errorless versus errorful learning: are frontal executive skills and feedback important? International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 40(4), 505-523
Fillingham, J.K., Sage, K., & Lambon Ralph, M.A., 2006. The treatment of anomia using errorless learning. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 16(2), 129-154
McKissock, S. & Ward, J., 2007. Do errors matter? Errorless and errorful learning in anomic picture naming. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 17(3), 355-373
Ylvisanker, M., Hibbard, M. & Feeney, T., 2006. LEARNet: A resource for teachers, clinicians, parents, and students by the brain injury association of New York State. Errorless learning. [online] Available at: <http://www.projectlearnet.org/tutorials/errorless_learning.html> [Accessed 29/12/2015]
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