scholarly journals Writing Treatment for Aphasia: A Texting Approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 945-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pélagie M. Beeson ◽  
Kristina Higginson ◽  
Kindle Rising

Purpose Treatment studies have documented the therapeutic and functional value of lexical writing treatment for individuals with severe aphasia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether such retraining could be accomplished using the typing feature of a cellular telephone, with the ultimate goal of using text messaging for communication. Method A 31-year-old man with persistent Broca's aphasia, severe apraxia of speech, global dysgraphia, and right hemiparesis participated in this study. Using a multiple baseline design, relearning and maintenance of single-word spellings (and oral naming) of targeted items were examined in response to traditional Copy and Recall Treatment (CART) for handwriting and a new paradigm using 1-handed typing on a cell phone keyboard (i.e., a texting version of CART referred to as T-CART). Results Marked improvements were documented in spelling and spoken naming trained in either modality, with stronger maintenance for handwriting than cell phone typing. Training resulted in functional use of texting that continued for 2 years after treatment. Conclusions These results suggest that orthographic retraining using a cell phone keyboard has the potential to improve spelling knowledge and provide a means to improve functional communication skills. Combined training with both handwriting and cell phone typing should be considered in order to maximize the durability of treatment effects.

2021 ◽  
pp. 109830072098353
Author(s):  
Emily Gregori ◽  
Mandy J. Rispoli ◽  
Catharine Lory ◽  
So Yeon Kim ◽  
Marie David

Young children with intensive behavioral needs are often served by paraprofessionals, who are typically among the least trained and least supported staff in the school. While professional development opportunities to address challenging behavior are generally limited for special education teachers, such professional growth opportunities are often completely unavailable for paraprofessionals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a program in which teachers served as coaches for paraprofessionals. Using a multiple-baseline design across paraprofessional-and-child dyads, we evaluated the effects of the teachers-as-coaches program on paraprofessional implementation fidelity and child engagement in challenging behavior and appropriate communication. The results showed that with teacher coaching, paraprofessionals increased their behavior intervention implementation fidelity to 100%. During the maintenance probes, two of the paraprofessionals implemented the intervention with 100% fidelity, and the third paraprofessional implemented the intervention with higher fidelity than baseline. Results also showed corresponding decreases in child challenging behavior and increases in appropriate communication. Implications for research and practice in supporting paraprofessionals are discussed.


1998 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 725-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie L. Wambaugh ◽  
Michelene M. Kalinyak-Fliszar ◽  
Joan E. West ◽  
Patrick J. Doyle

This investigation was designed to examine the acquisition, generalization, and maintenance effects of a treatment for sound errors in speakers with co-occurring apraxia of speech and aphasia. Three speakers with chronic apraxia of speech and aphasia were studied in the context of a multiple baseline design across speakers and behaviors. Treatment combined the use of minimal contrast pairs with traditional sound production training techniques such as integral stimulation and articulatory placement cueing and was applied sequentially to sounds that were determined to be consistently in error before training. Results revealed increased correct sound productions for all speakers in trained and untrained words. Response generalization effects across sounds and stimulus generalization effects varied, but appeared to be limited for most speakers. Although positive maintenance effects were evidenced, some loss of treatment gains was noted following cessation of treatment.


1998 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynn Kern Koegel ◽  
Dara Stiebel ◽  
Robert L. Koegel

Children with autism often lack appropriate means to communicate and may rely on aggression and other disruptive behaviors to express their needs. This may be a particularly serious problem when aggression occurs toward an infant or toddler, who could be severely injured by an older sibling. This study examined the use of functional assessment and individualized parent-implemented intervention plans in the home setting, including functional communication training with relevant ecological manipulations. Data were collected in the context of a multiple baseline design across three families. The results showed that after the intervention there were: (1) large reductions in the children's aggression toward their infant or toddler sibling, (2) increases in parent and child happiness level, and (3) increases in strangers' level of comfort with respect to interacting with the family. The results are discussed in terms of improving the overall quality of life for families of children with autism.


Author(s):  
Shannon C. Mauszycki ◽  
Sandra Wright ◽  
Nicole Dingus ◽  
Julie L. Wambaugh

Purpose This investigation was designed to examine the effects of an articulatory-kinematic treatment in conjunction with visual biofeedback (VBFB) via electropalatography (EPG) on the accuracy of articulation for acquired apraxia of speech (AOS). Method A multiple-baseline design across participants and behaviors was used with 4 individuals with chronic AOS and aphasia. Accuracy of target speech sounds in treated and untreated phrases in probe sessions served as the dependent variable. Participants received an articulatory-kinematic treatment in combination with VBFB, which was sequentially applied to 3 stimulus sets composed of 2-word phrases with a target speech sound for each set. Results Positive changes in articulatory accuracy were observed for participants for the majority of treated speech sounds. Also, there was generalization to untreated phrases for most trained speech sounds. Two participants had better long-term maintenance of treated speech sounds in both trained and untrained stimuli. Conclusions Findings indicate EPG may be a potential treatment tool for AOS. It appears that individuals with AOS can benefit from VBFB via EPG in improving articulatory accuracy. However, further research is needed to determine if VBFB is more advantageous than behavioral treatments that have been proven effective in improving speech production for speakers with AOS.


1996 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenyatta O. Rivers ◽  
Linda J. Lombardino ◽  
Cynthia K. Thompson

The effects of training in letter-sound correspondences and phonemic decoding (segmenting and blending skills) on three kindergartners' word recognition abilities were examined using a single-subject multiple-baseline design across behaviors and subjects. Whereas CVC pseudowords were trained, generalization to untrained CVC pseudowords, untrained CVC real words, untrained CV and VC pseudowords, and untrained CV and VC real words were assessed. Generalization occurred to all of the untrained constructions for two of the three subjects. The third subject did not show the same degree of generalization to VC pseudowords and real words; however, after three training sessions, this subject read all VC constructions with 100% accuracy. Findings are consistent with group training studies that have shown the benefits of decoding training on word recognition and spelling skills and with studies that have demonstrated the effects of generalization to less complex structures when more complex structures are trained.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Chapple

Abstract Over the past 20 years, there have been many advances in the computer industry as well as in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. Computers are becoming more compact and have multiple purposes, such as the iPhone, which is a cell phone, mp3 player, and an Internet browser. AAC devices also have evolved to become multi-purpose devices; the most sophisticated devices have functionality similar to the iPhone and iPod. Recently, the idea of having the iPhone and iPad as a communication device was initiated with the development of language applications specifically for this format. It might be true that this idea could become the future of AAC devices; however, there are major access issues to overcome before the idea is a reality. This article will chronicle advancements in AAC devices, specifically on access methods, throughout the years, towards the transition to handheld devices. The newest technologies hold much promise with both features and affordability factors being highly attractive. Yet, these technologies must be made to incorporate alternate access if they are to meet their fullest potential as AAC tools.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document