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Evaluating the effectiveness of a communication board training program.
The Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders
|May 1, 1983
Summary
Improving communication for nonspeaking individuals involves optimizing communication boards and training users and listeners. This approach enhances communicative effectiveness in daily life settings.
Area of Science:
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Assistive Technology
Background:
- Nonspeaking individuals often face challenges in communicative effectiveness.
- Communication boards are a key AAC tool, but their design and use require optimization.
- Naturalistic observation provides valuable insights into AAC intervention efficacy.
Observation:
- A case study focused on a 24-year-old nonspeaking woman, Kay, in a nursing home setting.
- The study observed the impact of tailored interventions on her ability to communicate.
- Systematic observation was employed to track changes in communicative effectiveness.
Findings:
- Revising the communication board design significantly improved usability.
- Functional communication training empowered the user to meet daily needs effectively.
- Listener training (inservice program) enhanced the communicative interactions with the user.
Implications:
- A multi-faceted approach combining user-centered design, functional training, and environmental support is crucial for AAC success.
- Interventions should be individualized and implemented within the user's natural environment.
- Enhancing communicative effectiveness can improve the quality of life for nonspeaking individuals.