The Effectiveness of Art Therapy on Improving Aphasia in ۱۶-۲۰-Year-Old Boys: Evidence from the Rey Complex Figure Test

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a subtype of frontotemporal dementia that affects the language networks of the brain. Individuals with PPA suffer from a general decline in communicative abilities. Recent studies have confirmed the potential value of naming therapy in reducing widespread language difficulties in this population. However, most interventions have focused on word-level naming, and few have addressed their effectiveness within discourse contexts, leaving limited information in this domain. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of creative art therapy in individuals with aphasia. Sixteen boys aged ۱۶ to ۲۰ with diagnosed aphasia were selected from a psychology clinic affiliated with the Welfare Organization. Using the T-test, eight participants were assigned to the experimental group and eight to the control group. The experimental group underwent eight sessions of art therapy. Both groups were assessed before and after the intervention using the Rey Complex Figure Test, the Persian version of the Aphasia Test, and brain mapping. Based on the Rey Complex Figure Test results, the experimental group showed a ۲۳% improvement, compared to a ۶% improvement in the control group. These findings suggest that art therapy contributed to an approximate ۱۷% increase in memory improvement, image recall, and visual retrieval. Furthermore, some individuals experienced up to a ۶۵% enhancement in visual performance and memory retrieval following art therapy, and showed notable improvement in executive function, particularly in processing speed.

کلیدواژه ها:

Aphasia ، Language Impairment ، Art Therapy Effectiveness ، Rey Complex Figure Test