AAC Intervention for Stroke Survivors - An Anomic Aphasic Case Study

Abstract

Aphasia is an impairment of language that is a consequence of a cerebral insult or damage affecting the speech production and/or comprehension, as well as the ability to read or write. Etiology of Aphasia is multifactorial, most commonly in the form of a stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident), especially in older individuals. The type of aphasia is determined based on multiple factors such as the site of lesion, signs and symptoms and also through patient’s clinical presentation. Rehabilitation for stroke survivors plays a major role in communication effectiveness. Computerized Intervention method provides a prognostic factor in the treatment for adults with aphasia. AAC devices (high-tech) are used to enhance communicative effectiveness of aphasic individuals who are less likely to use strategies/techniques that the caregiver can use to foster interactions between themselves and the aphasic individual outside the treatment setting. Other factors that determine the success of the intervention are the intensiveness and the duration of intervention. This study focuses on one such intervention of an adult Anomic Aphasia patient using a high tech AAC computerized application known as Avaz. The results showed that the client was able to perform much better in terms of the word retrieving abilities and is now able to communicate well. Key words: Augmentative and Alternative Communications; Anomic Aphasia; Language intervention; Avaz; High tech.