Alternative Supplementary Communication (ASC) as a Field for the Development of Communication in Elderly Afasics

Abstract

Introduction: Aphasia is a pathology that causes a compromise in speech and / or writing, caused by an acquired lesion on the left side of the brain. It can cause language confusion and can impair access to vocabulary, syntactic organization, coding, and decoding of messages. We can classify as a severe aphasic patient, the one who does not speak or write, but there is production of unintelligible sounds, in other words, doesn’t have an articulate speech. Supplementary and / or alternative communication (SAC) is a form of contribution to benefit the language of patients with impairment in verbal communication, in this case aphasic. It is composed of verbal and nonverbal signs that stimulate dialogue favoring the adequacy of language. Objective: To carry out a bibliographic survey about supplementary and alternative communication (SAC) in aphasic elderly. Methods: This study was carried out with publication inclusion criteria between 2014 and 2017, indexed in the SciELO, PubMed, MEDLINE and LILACS databases. The following keywords were selected in English: Aphasia; Supplementary and Alternative Communication; Speech therapy; Elderly; Language. Results and discussion: Most of the studies analyzed reported that CSA contributed to the more active interaction during communication and influenced the development of linguistic and social quality. Pictogram Ideogram Communication (PIC), Picture Communication Symbols (PCS), Bliss system and use of communicators and softwares are technological resources that can be used for aphasics in speech and language practice. Conclusion: The use of alternative supplementary communication allows a perspective of non-verbal language and its dimensions, being effective for the manifestations of aphasia, since it provides a better quality in communication becoming more effective mainly for the family environment and generating benefits before the development of various other skills.