Verbotonal methodology: practical activities for patients with emissive aphasia

Abstract

Introduction: Language is a systematic means of communicating capable of moving a society, manifesting itself in various forms and transmitting communication. The abrupt loss of language’s force due to a brain damage, such as aphasia, can cause significant injury. Aphasia could be defined as the complete or partial loss of the condition of expressing through speech, writing or gestures, interfering even in the ability to comprehend oral and written. On the other hand, the verbotonal methodology is a technique of language re-education that can be applied to correct the communication problems. Objective: The aim of this project is to elaborate a manual with practical activities based on Verbotonal Methodology for patients with Emissive Aphasias. Method: A qualitative descriptive and theoretical research was done. First, the bibliographic data were collected to begin the development of the manual. The contents were analyzed and the elaboration of the suggested activities was begun. Results: The manual discusses the Verbotonal Methodology that consists in the techniques: audiovisual, joint, musical and corporal rhythms and individual, the objective of the techniques and, therefore, the activities. The Audiovisual technique was illustrated using story demonstrations that could be used to restructure the morphosyntax. For the Joint technique activities were developed to reorganize the syntax. In relation to the Body Rhythm Technique, the illustration of each body movement was elaborated to better visualize the movements and application within the therapeutic process. For the Ritmo Musical technique, activities were elaborated to restructure the suprasegmental aspects. And for the Individual technique, activities focus on vocal quality were explained. Conclusion: It is believed that through the use of the manual with emissive aphasic patients, it can contribute to making the therapy more functional and pleasurable, besides stimulating daily life at the time of therapy, contributing to having more effective communication and an increasingly full prognosis.