Dr Clare McCann

Phone: +64 9 373 7599 ext 85221
Email: c.mccann@auckland.ac.nz
Room: 721.314, Tāmaki

My current research focuses on language processing in adults with fluent aphasia, especially the production of verbs and sentences. I am particularly interested in the interface between linguistics, psycholinguistics and aphasia, as well as the development of theoretically motivated therapy methods for adults with aphasia. New research projects aim to investigate the differences between language processing and auditory processing after a stroke; acquired language disorders in children; and the language of dementia.

This research informs my teaching in the Acquired Communication Disorders paper (SPCHSCI 723) as well as in clinical practice where I am a clinical educator to students.

Verb production in fluent aphasia
We know that verbs and sentences are problematic in aphasia (both fluent and nonfluent). Using the Argument Structure Complexity Hypothesis, this study investigated the linguistic and psycholinguistic bases for verb production deficits in fluent aphasia.

Measuring word frequency
For some time word frequency has been used as one of a range of reliable predictors of difficulty in evaluating lexical retrieval (in cases of word-finding difficulty). In order to better understand the usefulness of frequency as a measure, this study analysed a number of word frequency databases.
 

• Edwards, S., Tucker, K. & McCann, C. (2004). The contribution of verb retrieval to sentence construction: A clinical study. Brain and Language, 91, 78-79.
• McCann, C. & Edwards, S. (2002). Verb problems in fluent aphasia. Brain and Language, 83, 42-44.
• McCann, C. & Edwards, S. (2001). Verb production in fluent aphasia. Brain and Language, 79, 134-136.