Evidence-Based Practice Recommendations for Working with Individuals with Dementia: Spaced-Retrieval Training

The Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASFIA), its Special Interest Division 2 (SID-2, Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders), and the Veterans Administration (VA) collaborated to establish evidence-based practice guidelines for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who work with individuals who have Alzheimer type dementia. A writing committee was formed and a technical report with evidence tables was developed based on a systematic review and classification of the literature related to assessment and management of individuals with dementia of the Alzheimer type. In this clinical report, scientific evidence related to clinical interventions using spaced-retrieval training is summarized. The 15 studies reviewed were judged to provide Class II and Class III scientific evidence to support the use of spaced-retrieval training for individuals with dementia. Participant characteristics, the nature of the training programs, outcomes of the training, methodological concerns, trends across studies, practice recommendations, and directions for future research are provided.