Article

Learning how to use a computer-based communication system can be challenging for
people with severe aphasia even if the system is not word-based. This study
explored cognitive and linguistic factors relative to how they affected
individual patients' ability to communicate expressively using C-Speak Aphasia
(CSA), an alternative communication computer program that is primarily
picture-based. Ten individuals with severe non-fluent aphasia received at least
six months of training with CSA. To assess carryover of training, untrained
functional communication tasks (i.e., answering autobiographical questions,
describing pictures, making telephone calls, describing a short video, and two
writing tasks) were repeatedly probed in two conditions: (1) using CSA in
addition to natural forms of communication, and (2) using only natural forms of
communication, e.g., speaking, writing, gesturing, drawing. Four of the 10
participants communicated more information on selected probe tasks using CSA than
they did without the computer. Response to treatment was also examined in
relation to baseline measures of non-linguistic executive function skills,
pictorial semantic abilities, and auditory comprehension. Only nonlinguistic
executive function skills were significantly correlated with treatment response.

Langue : ANGLAIS