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Updated: Mar 3, 2026
Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Development of the Aboriginal Communication Assessment After Brain Injury (ACAABI): A screening tool for identifying
Elizabeth M Armstrong1, Natalie Ciccone1, Deborah Hersh1
1a School of Medical & Health Sciences , Edith Cowan University , Perth , Australia.
Purpose:
Acquired communication disorders (ACD), following stroke and traumatic brain injury, may not be correctly identified in Aboriginal Australians due to a lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate assessment tools. Within this paper we explore key issues that were considered in the development of the Aboriginal Communication Assessment After Brain Injury (ACAABI) - a screening tool designed to assess the presence of ACD in Aboriginal populations.
Method:
A literature review and consultation with key stakeholders were undertaken to explore directions needed to develop a new tool, based on existing tools and recommendations for future developments.
Result:
The literature searches revealed no existing screening tool for ACD in these populations, but identified tools in the areas of cognition and social-emotional wellbeing. Articles retrieved described details of the content and style of these tools, with recommendations for the development and administration of a new tool. The findings from the interview and focus group views were consistent with the approach recommended in the literature.
Conclusions:
There is a need for a screening tool for ACD to be developed but any tool must be informed by knowledge of Aboriginal language, culture and community input in order to be acceptable and valid.
