Alternative Forms Of Communication Research Articles

Combining lexical and interactional approaches to therapy for word finding deficits in aphasia

Background: There are two distinct theoretical positions underlying approaches to aphasia therapy. The first addresses the language impairment directly through tasks designed to improve performance in that language function. This form of therapy was employed in a related study involving the participants reported here (Hickin et al., 2002a). The second seeks to bypass the language impairment by, for example promoting alternative forms of communication, and stressing the importance of successful rather than normal communication. There are few studies that combine the structured principled methods of the first with the ecologically valid basis of the second approach.Aims: Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of combining a lexical therapy, targeting a discrete set of items and using cues to prompt name retrieval, with communicative use of those items, in tasks ranging from naming to definition through to structured conversation. We investigated the effects of the therapy in terms of gains in picture naming, and performance in a task simulating communication situations (production of nouns in everyday communication).Methods & Procedures: The study is a case series design involving six people with aphasia. All were adult English speakers aged 39 and upwards who were aphasic following a single left hemisphere stroke. Picture naming and production of nouns in everyday communication was assessed prior to and after therapy.Outcomes & Results: The combined therapy described here was effective for five of the six participants in terms of gains in picture naming, and an increase in communicatively effective responses in the noun production task. One person, for whom the lexical therapy described in Hickin et al. (2002a) was not effective, did however respond to the therapy reported here. For one of the six participants, the therapy was not effective.Conclusions: Therapy that targets a specific set of words, and encourages their use in tasks approaching everyday communication, can be effective in improving word finding in picture naming and in a functional speech task. As therapy effects are restricted to items undergoing therapy on the whole it is essential that words are selected for therapy on the basis of their functional use to the participant. This therapy was effective for most of the six participants and we are unable at this stage to identify exclusion criteria for undergoing this therapy.

Written communication using a Lightwriter in undifferentiated jargon aphasia: A single case study

Background: The difficulties of language rehabilitation in jargon aphasia are well known. The presence of fluent, empty, often neologistic speech makes these clients largely unintelligible, and lack of awareness of their language problems often makes them resistant to therapy. In some clients, writing, although impaired, differs from speech. Neologisms do not occur and output is monitored. Studies have shown that these residual writing skills can respond to therapy, and act as an alternative form of communication. Client: MA has undifferentiated jargon aphasia. Her spoken output had not responded to treatment, and therapy had failed to establish a nonverbal mode of communication. Her writing was impaired, and its slow and effortful execution hindered her progress. However, she retained some ability to access written words and was aware of her errors. Aims: Therapy aimed to improve access to written words, and to facilitate writing by using a Lightwriter. Methods & Procedures: Three stages of therapy were conducted. Words selected by MA for their usefulness were treated. In stage 1 solving anagrams, copying, delayed copying, and written naming were used to improve access to their orthographies. Written naming improved but only to the pictures used in therapy. In stages 2 and 3 further words were introduced, and steps taken to encourage generalisation. In stage 2 several different pictures of each item were used to overcome the picture-specific effect. In stage 3 written words were used to describe situations and answer questions in order to encourage their use in communication. Outcomes & Results: MA improved significantly in writing treated words, and her rate of acquisition accelerated as therapy progressed. Performance was largely maintained after periods without treatment or exposure to the treated items. MA made progress in using her written vocabulary to answer questions in therapy, but needed prompting to use the Lightwriter rather than speech and rarely made functional use of it outside the clinic setting. Conclusion: MA's progress demonstrates the potential for treating writing in jargon aphasia. Her progress in accessing word orthographies allowed her to use the Lightwriter for communication. Her inability to use writing spontaneously suggests that further therapy is needed and that it should include a regular partner to encourage functional use.

Telecommunications in times of crisis: reflections on September 11

Looks at how different, alternative, forms of communication helped cope with the September 11 crisis in the most tragic of times. States if there is any real lesson to be learned from the tragedy, in terms of telecommunications – it is true, in terms of crisis that many forms of alternative communication are of great benefit.

The perception gap in employee empowerment: a comparative study of banks in Sweden and Britain

Forms of employee empowerment often associated with HRM initiatives have increased considerably in recent years. This research examines communicational forms of empowerment in a British and Swedish bank. The findings are contextualised against a rapidly changing environment which characterised the banking sector in the 1990s. Research of this nature is often conducted in a mono‐cultural context despite the fact there is increasing evidence that managerial practices, including empowerment, are highly influenced by societal factors. The research confirms previous assumptions that Swedish workers have greater participation than the British in the workplace, but the strength of participation is mediated by external factors such as labour law, social values, technological change and economic conditions. Such factors can negatively impact on alternative forms of communication via trade unions. In such periods effective employee involvement is restricted to micro levels, despite expectations by employees of more involvement in organisational issues at macro levels.

The Emergence of Graphicacy

The communications goal in University Studies was defined quite broadly to include not just writing, but oral, numerical, and graphical modes as well. The latter proved especially challenging; fortunately, in the first cohort of faculty to teach in Freshman Inquiry, we had the resources of a cartographer, an artist, and a member of the dance faculty, each of whom was highly aware--in his or her own different ways--of the pedagogies of visual communication. Yet, however well we have succeeded in defining, operationalizing, and teaching them--and our efforts are mixed at best--these alternate forms of communication still compete with writing for equal recognition and implementation in the classroom.

Celebrating Linguistic Diversity

Offers brief annotations of 45 illustrated children’s books that offer a vision of a linguistically rich world where language difference is a resource, not an obstacle. Groups the books in the following categories: codeswitching as authentic language; dual language texts; language and cultural traditions; alternate forms of communication; and personal and community voices.

Early Intervention: Does Developmental Therapy Make a Difference?

The initial goal of this paper is to provide a review of recent articles which have examined the efficacy of early developmental therapy. Emphasis is placed on two relatively new research methodologies—quantitative reviewing or meta-analysis and single-subject research design. The second part of this paper focuses on future directions for efficacy research in physical therapy. These include the need to use criterion-referenced outcome measures as dependent variables as well as functional changes, such as improvements in independent mobility, alternative forms of communication, and self-help skills.

Selection of a Core Lexicon for Use With Graphic Communicative Systems

Non-speech communicative systems are becoming a more frequently used form of alternative communication. If these systems are to be used effectively, their implementation must be carefully planned starting with the selection of the core lexicon. Guidelines in selecting this core lexicon should draw from information concerning normal language acquisition, the individual and his environment, and from the system involved. A discussion of Bliss and Rebus Symbols and these guidelines aresults in a fifty-item core lexicon.

Blissymbolics-a nonverbal communication system.

Until recently, speech-language pathologists have shown little interest in seeking alternate forms of communication when functional verbal communication is not attainable. There is a paucity of literature dealing with nonverbal communication systems for people lacking functional verbal communication for reasons other than deafness. Blissymbolics is a logical, visual language that has provided functional communication for nonverbal cerebral-palsied children. The full potential and application of Blissymbolics has only begun to be realized, and there is much need for experimentation and research. This paper describes the system and suggests areas for future application and development.