Patient-centred design of aphasia therapy apps: a scoping review

Technology is being increasingly used in language therapy to raise intervention frequency and effect. Involving patients in the design process of healthcare software programmes can improve the quality and effectiveness, as well as the patient’s independence in their use. For German speaking patients few apps are currently available, although more are under development. This scoping review was conducted to map the current evidence for whether people with aphasia have been actively involved in the process of design and development of apps for mobile device aphasia therapy in the German language countries. Our search Medline, Speechbite, PsycInfo, Cochrane, Google Scholar, in addition to some relevant German journals and the grey literature, identified 504 articles; with 14 papers meeting our inclusion criteria. These papers related to three German apps (SpeechCare, DiaTrain, neolexon). Most of the included papers reported software development processes (n=11); three papers described evaluation studies. Patients were involved in many steps of these development processes, though detailed descriptions of user participation were missing. The analysis mapped out four common phases of app development comprising (1) preliminary theoretical considerations, (2) software development, (3) prototype testing and (4) product evaluations. A consensus on how best to engage end users in development processes of future apps could be highly relevant to product developers, researchers and practitioners

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