Therapy Tidbits: Expansion and Elaboration

Expansion/Elaboration:
Basically, the response you have obtained from the patient is correct but not perfect; so, you expand the response or ask the person to elaborate.

For example, you ask: "How are shoes and boots alike?" and the person responds, "You wear them." You say, "That's right. Shoes and boots are worn." You can continue to expand the response by saying "Yes, they are worn on your feet. What kind of clothing are they?" or you may ask them to elaborate, "On what part of the body do you wear shoes and boots?" and/or "What kind of clothing are shoes and boots?"

The "perfect" response you are trying to elicit is "footwear."