- Response Elaboration Training
What is It?
- Response Elaboration Training (RET) is a therapy approach that encourages individuals to expand on their responses during conversation. By building on whatever the patient says, this method promotes natural language use and improves sentence length and complexity in spontaneous speech.
How does it work?
During RET sessions, the therapist asks open-ended questions or shows a picture to prompt a response. For example, if the patient says “Dog,” the therapist might ask, “What is the dog doing?” or expand on their response by adding, “Yes, the dog is running in the park. What else is happening?” This iterative process encourages elaboration.
How does it help?
RET targets Broca’s aphasia by focusing on increasing sentence length and complexity, which are typically reduced in this condition. It improves speaking and helps patients practice listening as they respond to prompts. The iterative process also supports verbal expression and conversational fluency.
How do you do it?
Use a picture or ask a question to prompt a response. Then try to expand on it and add more detail. For example, if someone says, “The cat,” you might respond, “Yes, the cat is sleeping on the couch. Can you tell me more about the couch or the room?” The goal is to build longer sentences.