Building on residual speech: a portable processing prosthesis for aphasia

Area of Science:

• Speech-Language Pathology
• Assistive Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Individuals with mild-to-moderate aphasia often hesitate to use communication aids that replace their natural speech.
• Existing aids may not adequately support residual speech capabilities, impacting user acceptance and efficacy.
• SentenceShaper software offers a "processing prosthesis" to aid in composing spoken messages.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the challenges and strengths of SentenceShaper for individuals with aphasia.
• To introduce SentenceShaper To Go, a portable extension of the software.
• To assess the viability of computer-based support for residual speech in message composition.

Main Methods:

• Review of SentenceShaper's features and design considerations for aphasia.
• Examination of factors guiding the development of the portable SentenceShaper To Go.
• Pilot study data collection for a proof-of-concept evaluation of the portable system.

Main Results:

• SentenceShaper allows users to record and combine spoken fragments in their own voice.
• Previous studies indicated potential superiority of SentenceShaper-created narratives over spontaneous speech.
• Pilot data suggest SentenceShaper To Go is a viable tool for computer-based speech support.

Conclusions:

• SentenceShaper To Go shows promise as a portable communication aid for aphasia.
• The system's design addresses user reluctance by utilizing residual speech.
• Further research is needed to confirm efficacy for functional communication and user acceptance.