Efficacy of Communication Strategies in Augmenting Quality of Life and Participation in Individuals with Aphasia

Abstract

Use of communication strategies are recommended frequently to individuals with aphasia in order to enhance their communication and societal participation. This study aims to explore the efficacy of communication strategy usage in persons with chronic aphasia and their communicative partners. For this purpose, interviews were conducted with five women and six men with chronic aphasia (N =11) and a qualitative analysis of the same was done. Different factors related to individuals with aphasia, their caregivers and topics of conversation were found to affect the efficacious use of communication strategies. The most important among this was the care givers awareness regarding the need and usage of communication strategies. It was evident from the current research that caregiver training on communication strategies should be an integral goal of aphasia rehabilitation. This will inturn enhance rehabilitation and integration of individuals with aphasia for societal participation.

References

  • Blom Johansson, M., Carlsson, M. and Sonnander, K., 2011, Working with families of persons with aphasia: a survey of Swedish speech and language pathologists. Disability and Rehabilitation, 33, 51–62 http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2010.486465
  • Brookshire, R. H., 2007, Introduction to Neurogenic Communication Disorders (St. Louis, MO: Mosby, Elsevier).
  • Cruice, M., Worrall, L., Hickson, L. and Murison, R., 2003, Finding a focus for quality of life with aphasia: social and emotional health, and psychological well- being. Aphasiology, 17, 333–353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02687030244000707
  • HOWE, T. J., WORRALL, L. E. and HICKSON, L. M. H., 2008, Interviews with people with aphasia: environmental factors that influence their community participation. Aphasiology, 22, 1–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02687030701640941
  • Jacobs, B., Drew, R., Ogletree, B. T. and Pierce, K., 2004, Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for adults with severe aphasia: where we stand and how we can go further. Disability and Rehabilitation, 26, 1231–1240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638280412331280244
  • Simmons-Mackie, N. and Kagan, A., 2007, Application of the ICF in aphasia. Seminars in Speech and Language, 28, 244–253. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-986521
  • WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO), 2001, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Geneva: WHO

  • Published Date : 2016-04-04