Lexical retrieval and word finding difficulties: speech therapy guide
The word finding difficulty (or lexical retrieval disorder) is characterized by difficulty in finding the right word when needed. The person knows what they want to say but the word does not "come." This common disorder can be developmental (DLD) or acquired (aphasia). The speech therapist has many strategies to improve lexical access.
💬 Lexical retrieval resources
Naming exercises, vocabulary games, access strategies
Access the tools →📋 Table of contents
What is word finding difficulty?
Lexical retrieval is the ability to retrieve a word stored in memory when needed. Word finding difficulty corresponds to a failure or slowdown of this process. The person may describe the object, know its use, but cannot find the name.
How does it manifest?
Pauses and hesitations: abnormally long latency time before producing the word.
Periphrases: description of the object instead of the word ("the thing for cutting" instead of "scissors").
Generic words: excessive use of "thing," "stuff," "thingamajig."
Paraphasias: production of a semantically close word ("fork" for "knife") or phonologically close ("parteau" for "coat").
Approach behaviors: successive attempts to reach the target word.
Causes of word finding difficulty
Developmental disorders: DLD (developmental language disorder), specific lexical disorder.
Acquired disorders: aphasia (stroke, trauma), neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's).
Normal aging: slight slowdown of lexical access with age.
Assessment
Image naming: standardized test (DO80, LEXIS, BIMM).
Verbal fluency: categorical (animals) and phonemic (words starting with P).
Spontaneous speech: observe compensation strategies.
Intervention strategies
💡 Rehabilitation approaches
Reinforcement of representations: enrich semantic links (categories, properties, associations).
Facilitation of access: phonological cues (first sound), semantic (category), contextual.
Compensatory strategies: learning to self-cue.
Semantic work: categorization, associations, definitions, distinctive features.
Phonological work: initial sounds, syllables, rhymes associated with words.
Repeated naming: massive exposure to target words.
Our downloadable tools
🖼️ Daily life picture book
Images for naming and lexical enrichment.
Download📚 Category cards
For semantic work and categorization.
Download🔤 Fluency games
Rapid retrieval exercises by category or phoneme.
DownloadFrequently asked questions
Yes, with targeted rehabilitation. In children with DLD, vocabulary and access improve gradually. In adults with aphasia, recovery depends on the lesion. In all cases, compensatory strategies can be developed.
Yes, the phenomenon of "tip of the tongue" happens to everyone occasionally. It is pathological when it is very frequent, affects common words, and impacts daily communication.
