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A computerised communication aid for people with aphasia
Mieke van de Sandt-Koenderman1, Jiska Wiegers, Philippa Hardy
1Rijndam Rehabilitation Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.sandt@rijndam.nl
Disability and Rehabilitation
|July 26, 2005
Summary
A portable communication aid was developed for people with aphasia. Carefully selected individuals found the device beneficial for functional, everyday communication.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Assistive Technology
Background:
- Aphasia significantly impairs communication in daily life.
- Existing communication aids may not fully meet the needs of individuals with aphasia.
- Development of portable and user-friendly assistive technology is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a portable, computerised communication aid for individuals with aphasia.
- To enhance functional communication in everyday settings for people with aphasia.
- To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of the developed aid.
Main Methods:
- A multidisciplinary team developed the Portable Communication Assistant for People with Dysphasia (PCAD) system.
- PCAD runs on a handheld computer and is modular.
- A multiple case study involved 28 participants with aphasia across three countries, with training and real-life use evaluation.
Main Results:
- 22 out of 28 referred participants completed training.
- 17 participants successfully used the PCAD aid functionally in everyday life.
- Younger participants with shorter aphasia duration were less likely to use the aid outside therapy.
Conclusions:
- Computerised communication aids can be beneficial for carefully selected individuals with aphasia.
- Functional use in everyday communicative settings is achievable with appropriate selection and support.
- The PCAD system demonstrates potential as an effective assistive technology for aphasia.