Treatment of phonological impairments: A single case study

In this study a computer-based remediation program for distinct disorders of phonological decoding and encoding in aphasia is evaluated. Based on models of speech perception and production, impairments in phonological processing may appear at different levels: phonetic, sublexical and lexical decoding and encoding. The general treatment goal is to modulate the underlying deficit by varying specific parameters of the practice material (lexicality, phonemic similarity, sonority). In earlier case studies, we could show the efficiency of this approach in phonological encoding impairments. Here we present a patient with conduction aphasia showing both pre- and post-lexical processing deficits

Peer-to-peer support: digital networking in aphasia to improve quality of life (PeerPAL)

BackgroundPeople with aphasia (PWA) often suffer from reduced participation and quality of life. Nevertheless, there are currently only a few specific interventions that respond to this problem. Participation and quality of life could be increased by interacting with peers who have similar experiences. Digital social networks could stimulate an autonomous interaction. However, digital social networks need to be adapted to the specific needs of PWA. Therefore, a participatory, agile process involving the target group should be chosen to develop such a solution, i.e., an app. The research project consists of a total of three phases. In the first phase—app development—the app was developed and programmed including the target group. In the second phase—app testing—the usability and user-friendliness of the app were evaluated with four PWA. In the third phase—feasibility and preliminary efficacy—that will be described in the article, the impact of the app on PWA will be evaluated.AimsThe overarching aim of our study is to provide preliminary efficacy of the intervention. Digital social interaction with other PWA can lead to increased social integration. In addition to digital interaction, personal encounters between PWA should be encouraged. As a result, we expect an improvement in quality of life of PWA. Additionally, we focus on identification of the most appropriate measurements to discover changes associated with the intervention.MethodsThe evaluation, which is described in this paper, takes place in a pre-test - post-test design with a total of n = 48 PWA. Participants will be recruited in regional clusters to facilitate face-to-face meetings. Half of the participants will be assigned to the delayed intervention group and the other half to the immediate intervention group. Participants in the delayed intervention group will go through a 3-month waiting period before using the app, while the participants of the immediate intervention group will start using the app for 3 months right away. Inclusion criteria are the presence of chronic aphasia (at least 6 months) and possession of a smartphone with internet access. Questionnaires on quality of life (SAQOL-39, GHQ-12), depression (GDS, DISCs), communicative participation (CPIB), and social support (F-SozU) will be conducted at inclusion (t0), after 3 months of app use (t1), and after another 3 months for follow-up (t2). Participants in the delayed intervention group will be assessed twice before the intervention, before the 3-month waiting period (t0a) and after the waiting period (t0b). In addition to the quantitative measures, interviews will take place with 6 to 8 selected participants after 3 months of app use. Responses will be analysed using Thematic Analysis.DiscussionThe app will be the first social network tool that is systematically developed with PWA. Initial indications from the first phases are that the app can be used by PWA, so that the evaluation of this app version can take place in the third phase. Results of this study can provide an initial indication of whether social network support is a suitable intervention. Findings will help provide information on the feasibility of digital connectivity for PWA. Preliminary findings on its impact on the participation and quality of life of PWA could be made available

Modellgeleitete Therapie phonologischer und phonetischer Störungen bei Aphasie : eine multiple Einzelfallstudie

Based on models of speech perception and production, different stages in phonological processing can be distinguished: phonetic, sublexical, and lexical levels of decoding and encoding respectively. In theory they can be selectively impaired. To address the specific level of phonological processing disruption we developed training material that entailed practice demands for each level of processing. This study aims to demonstrate the utility of this material-based approach by presenting the results of two patiants who showed both decoding and encoding difficulties at sublexical levels and one patient with apraxia of speech. The main component of the treatment programme was practice of minimal phonemic contrasts. The training material consisted of monosyllabic stimuli that were systematically varied for certain linguistic criteria, such as phonemic contrast position (onset/coda), lexicality (words/pseudowords), and phonetic complexity (increasing/unspecific sonority). The impact of these factors was studied in an alternating-treatments design employing control tests to assess baseline, outcome, and maintenance. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks during which phonological processing was practised under six treatment conditions. All exercises were computer assisted, and each session consisted of three main tasks: discrimination, identification, and reproduction. As predicted, the participants showed improvement during therapy when practising those items that called specifically for sublexical phonological processing. This study demonstrates that an impairment-specific and material-based therapy approach is promising for the treatment of impaired phonological and phonetic processing. Furthermore, the results suggest common mechanisms of input and output phonology

Modellgeleitete Therapie phonologischer und phonetischer Störungen bei Aphasie : eine multiple Einzelfallstudie

Based on models of speech perception and production, different stages in phonological processing can be distinguished: phonetic, sublexical, and lexical levels of decoding and encoding respectively. In theory they can be selectively impaired. To address the specific level of phonological processing disruption we developed training material that entailed practice demands for each level of processing. This study aims to demonstrate the utility of this material-based approach by presenting the results of two patiants who showed both decoding and encoding difficulties at sublexical levels and one patient with apraxia of speech. The main component of the treatment programme was practice of minimal phonemic contrasts. The training material consisted of monosyllabic stimuli that were systematically varied for certain linguistic criteria, such as phonemic contrast position (onset/coda), lexicality (words/pseudowords), and phonetic complexity (increasing/unspecific sonority). The impact of these factors was studied in an alternating-treatments design employing control tests to assess baseline, outcome, and maintenance. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks during which phonological processing was practised under six treatment conditions. All exercises were computer assisted, and each session consisted of three main tasks: discrimination, identification, and reproduction. As predicted, the participants showed improvement during therapy when practising those items that called specifically for sublexical phonological processing. This study demonstrates that an impairment-specific and material-based therapy approach is promising for the treatment of impaired phonological and phonetic processing. Furthermore, the results suggest common mechanisms of input and output phonology

Biography work in in long-term residential aged care with tablet support to improve the quality of life and communication – study protocol for app development and evaluation / Biografiearbeit in Senioreneinrichtungen mit Tablet-Unterstützung zur Verbesserung der Lebensqualität und Kommunikation (BaSeTaLK) – Studienprotokoll zur App-Entwicklung und Evaluation

Older adults in care facilities face a high risk of experiencing depression. The impact that early interventions like biographical work have on the quality of life for older adults in such facilities is unknown

How does biographic-narrative intervention influence identity negotiation and quality of life in aphasia? - The participants' perspective

Problem Many persons with aphasia experience a loss of Quality of Life (QoL). Although life story work supports processes of sense-making and by this QoL improvement, only a few studies made use of the “talk-based” approach in aphasic patients because of the language deficit (e.g. Shadden, 2005). We developed an adapted interdisciplinary biographic-narrative intervention, which was already shown to be effective in terms of gains in quantitative measures of QoL (Corsten, Konradi, Schimpf, Hardering, & Keilmann, 2013). For a deeper understanding we will now analyze the participants’ perspective obtained in interviews. Procedure and Analysis Five face-to-face in-depth interviews and seven group sessions were conducted over ten weeks in a mixed-method-design with pre- and post-tests and a follow-up assessment three months after the intervention. The multidimensional construct of QoL was measured with a battery of instruments: – the pictorial version of the Aachen Life Quality Inventory (ALQI, Engell, Hütter, Willmes, & Huber, 2003) – the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS, Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985) – a German version of the Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS, Stern, 1997) Semi-structured interviews, conducted post-treatment, included questions concerning the participants‘ experiences with the intervention, identity change and future perspectives e.g. Analysis was based on interpretative principles from grounded theory (Corbin & Strauss, 2008). Results For our entire sample of 27 participants with chronic but different types of aphasia we found a significant and stable growth in health-related QoL (ALQI, Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, two-tailed, p < .05). Self-reported states of mood also improved significantly (VAMS, t-test, two-tailed, p < .05). As expected, overall life satisfaction (SWLS) did not change. The interviews revealed three main themes “effectiveness of the intervention”, “QoL” and “self-concept”. The following associations with improvements in QoL were identified: enhanced coping regarding chronic illness, improved self-efficacy and control, and a more differentiated picture of self. The impacts of the different kinds of intervention are discussed. Discussion The quantitative and the qualitative results were complementary in demonstrating the effectiveness of the biographic-narrative intervention. As predicted, there was a specific treatment effect with a significant and stable improvement in QoL. Analysis of the semi-structured interviews indicated that through the approach the participants’ sense of self changed. The findings provide foundations for future work into intervention

За кадры. 1989. № 39 (2822)

Проблема начала и начало проблем / [беседа с] Н. М. Глушко ; [беседовал] Н. Куцан25 ноября в Доме культуры ТПИ состоится XXXVII отчетно-выборная конференция комсомольской организации / С. Кузнецов, В. З. Ямпольский, Ю. ДементьевЦифры и фактыСчет к самим себе / Н. ПавловаВыбор сделан / Ю. Г. Свинолупов, Е. И. Александров, А. МастихинПостановлениеВозродим традицию / И. Т. ЛозовскийВчера, сегодня, завтра. Кафедре промышленной и медицинской электроники - 30 лет / Н. ЛисицынНаши юбиляр

Differences of Modality Use between Telepractice and Face-to-Face Administration of the Scenario-Test in Persons with Dementia-Related Speech Disorder

Telepractice is increasingly finding its way into the care of people with dementia. Web-based delivery of speech and language therapy (SLT) is feasible and has the potential to improve communication in people with dementia-related speech disorders. Although experts are discussing the strengths and weaknesses of telepractice, a precise analysis of the differences between analogue and digital communication for this heterogeneous group of patients is still missing. The three current single cases investigated verbal and nonverbal aspects of communication in a face-to-face (F2F) and digital setting through a qualitative research design. Using the scenario-test (ST) in person and via big blue button (BBB; video conferencing system), several decisive factors were detected, influencing the effectiveness of communication in a F2F compared to a digital setting. The most important results of the qualitative content analysis are described for each case individually. Additionally, the influence of person-related factors, such as age, diagnosis, presence of depression, and level of education, is presented. Perceptual, executive, and affective disorders, as well as aids of relatives, are considered separately. The results indicate that executive functions, affects, and perceptual deficits need to be taken into account if telepractice is to be applied. Age, education, and distinct forms of dementia might be decisive for successful telepractice as well

Cope PPA—Adaptation of the Biographic-Narrative Approach for Persons with Primary Progressive Aphasia: Protocol for Clinical Trial Design

Persons with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) often experience limitations in their quality of life (QoL). Some studies have shown positive effects of speech and language therapy on QoL in persons with PPA. However, there is still a lack of evidence for disorder-specific approaches for this important therapeutic goal. The biographic-narrative approach (narraktiv) has been shown to significantly improve QoL in persons with post-stroke aphasia. In the planned study, the biographic-narrative approach will be adapted for persons with PPA (Cope PPA), and its efficacy will be investigated. First, a focus group interview with five persons with PPA will be conducted to identify the wishes and needs of participants. Based on the results, the narraktiv manual according to Corsten et al. (2015) will be revised. Second, an efficacy study will be conducted according to the new Cope PPA manual with 24 persons with PPA in a waiting group control design. The primary outcome, QoL, will be assessed using questionnaires (Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39) and semistructured interviews. Depressive symptoms, life satisfaction and cognitive/communicative functioning will also be assessed. If Cope PPA proves efficacy, this study may help to improve the treatment of persons with PPA