AAC for Persons with Degenerative Language Disorders: Informing Clinical Practice Melanie Fried-Oken (Oregon Health & Science University)

Challenge:
This project seeks to understand how communication systems can help people with progressive aphasia participate more fully in verbal conversations. The research compares how well adults with progressive aphasia and matched non-disabled adults converse when they are provided with AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) supports versus no AAC supports under controlled and natural settings

Goals:
• To gain knowledge related to conversational strategies in progressive aphasia and normal aging for more effective diagnosis and treatment
• To establish intervention guidelines for AAC and progressive aphasia based on findings from this project

Activities:
• Recruit 10 persons with primary aphasia and their caregivers/conversation partners
• Collect data with participants who have progressive aphasia in controlled settings (3 conversations with communication system and 3 without communication system. Conversations are between a research assistant and the person with progressive aphasia. The topic is autobiographical in nature.)
• Collect data with participants who are non-disabled age-matched peers during conversations with research assistants about autobiographical topics.
• Collect data with participants who have progressive aphasia in natural settings (3 conversations with communication system and 3 without communication system. Conversations are between caregiver/conversation partner and the person with progressive aphasia. The topic is about daily activities.)
• Collect data with participants who are non-disabled age-matched peers in natural settings with their peers talking about daily activities.
• Code data
• Analyze data
• Disseminate results

Knowledge transfer:

AAC for Adults with Neurodegenerative Disease
Christopher Gibbons, Ph.D., CCC/Sp
October 9, 2009
Oregon Speech and Hearing Assn
Contact information:

AAC Clinical Pathways for Neurodegenerative Disease
Christopher Gibbons, Ph.D., CCC/Sp
October 10th, 2009
Contact Information: Oregon Health & Science University/CDRC, 707 S.W. Gaines St., Portland, OR 97239, 503-494-0378, .