The papers that appear in this special edition of Aphasiology were selected based upon their theoretical importance, clinical relevance, and scientific merit from among the many platform and poster presentations comprising the 33rd Annual Clinical Aphasiology Conference convened in Orcas Island, Washington, USA during the last week of May 2003. Each paper was peer-reviewed by the Editorial Consultants and Associate Editors acknowledged herein consistent with the standards of Aphasiology and the rigours of merit review that represent this indexed archival journal.