Event Abstract

Back to Event

Conversational Activities in Aphasia Community Groups (ACGs): It’s the Talk that Counts

Elizabeth E. Galletta1*
  • 1 New York University Langone Medical Center, Rusk Rehabilitation Medicine, United States

Background Aphasia is a language disorder resulting from acquired brain damage that affects oral language comprehension and expression, as well as reading, writing, and gesture [1]. Along with language impairment, emotional and psychosocial changes commonly accompany aphasia [2,3]. With the introduction of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health model [4], health conditions are defined among three domains: body structures and functions (the impairment domain), activities, and participation. The classification of aphasia among these three domains promotes considering a broader definition than the more common medical model definition, which typically has focused on the impairment domain [5]. It is this broader definition of aphasia that considers the activities and participation of the individual. A framework for aphasia assessment known as the A-FROM can be used for outcome measurement within the Life Participation Approach to Aphasia (LPAA) [6]. The LPAA outcomes evaluation involves documenting quality of life and life participation changes, with a focus on satisfaction of life activities and social connections. With this in mind, the participation in aphasia community groups(ACGs) after therapy discharge may promote social connections[7], providing an opportunity for people with aphasia to engage in communication and activities, for the promotion of improved quality of life. Research questions What are the activities that occur in a longstanding Aphasia Community Group (ACG) Program? Are there patterns of attendance in ACGs? Method A retrospective review of ACG records was conducted. Two independent raters read the attendance records for four ACGs that met weekly over a two-year period. Each rater classified ACG activities into the following categories: Read/discuss article – Reading articles, poetry, quotes aloud, and discussion Current events – Discussing current events Personal discussions – Recap of week, discussing vacations, family, personal experiences with aphasia/health, etc. Moderated discussion – Moderated discussion of a selected topic, e.g. holidays, pop culture, music Speech/language games – Language related games e.g. Blurt, category games, Taboo, practicing ordering at a restaurant, Penny Stones conversation starters, Anomia game Other – e.g. horticulture activity, planning a trip, lunch at a restaurant. Results A retrospective review of records from four ACGs included at least 98 records reviewed from each group. Group participants had been assigned to a specific ACG based on aphasia severity as defined by the degree of impairment. Range of severity among ACGs was mild to moderately-severe. The activities that took place within the ACGs over a two-year period varied. Conversations that involved personal discussions and moderated discussions was the most common occurring group activity overall. The highest attendance was noted for the group where aphasia severity was mild. Attendance overall was lowest during the winter months. Conclusion Conversation was the most prevalent aphasia community group activity regardless of aphasia severity. Increased opportunities for conversation is thought to have a positive impact on quality of life, however quality of life was not evaluated specifically. Implementing the A-FROM system for outcome measurement of communication in ACGs may help document the effect of ACGs on quality of life for individuals with aphasia.

Figure 1
Image

Acknowledgements

The Aphasia Community Group Program at Rusk Rehabilitation was initiated many years ago by Martha Taylor Sarno. Her pioneering work that focused on social methods and the effect of aphasia on people's lives has influenced many. I thank the NYU Langone Medical Center Auxiliary and the Rusk Rehabilitation Medicine Department for their continued financial support of the Rusk Aphasia Community Group Program, the participants and volunteers, and Joely Mass and Jefiny Marte for help with this review.

References

[1] Papathanasiou, I. Coppens, P. & Potagas, C. (2011). Aphasia and Related Neurogenic Communication Disorders. Jones & Bartlett.
[2] Hemsley, G., and Code, C. (1996). Interactions between recovery in aphasia, emotional and psychosocial factors in subjects with aphasia, their significant others and speech pathologists. Disability Rehabilitation, Nov;18(11):567-84.
[3] Cahana-Amitay, D., Albert M.L., Pyun SB, Westwood, A., Jenkins, T., Wolford, S., et al. (2011). Language as a stressor in aphasia. Aphasiology, 25:593-614.
[4] World Health Organization, 2001.
[5] Galletta, E. E., and Barrett, A. M. (2014). Impairment and functional interventions for aphasia: Having it all. Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports, 2(2), 114–120. doi:10.1007/s40141-014-0050-5.
[6] Chapey, R., Duchan, J.F., Elman, R.J., Garcia, L.J., Kagan, A., Lyon, J.G., Simmons Mackie, N. (2000). Life participation approach to aphasia: A statement of values for the future. The ASHA Leader, February, Vol. 5, 4-6. doi:10.1044/leader.FTR.05032000.4
[7] Elman, R. J. (2007). The importance of aphasia group treatment for rebuilding community and health. Topics in Language Disorders. 27(4), 300-308.

Keywords: Aphasia Community Groups, Quality of Life, A-FROM, International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health, conversation

Conference: Academy of Aphasia 55th Annual Meeting , Baltimore, United States, 5 Nov - 7 Nov, 2017.

Presentation Type: poster presentation

Topic: Aphasia

Citation: Galletta EE (2019). Conversational Activities in Aphasia Community Groups (ACGs): It’s the Talk that Counts. Conference Abstract: Academy of Aphasia 55th Annual Meeting . doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2017.223.00097

Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters.

The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated.

Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed.

For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions.

Received: 04 Apr 2017; Published Online: 25 Jan 2019.

* Correspondence: Prof. Elizabeth E Galletta, New York University Langone Medical Center, Rusk Rehabilitation Medicine, New York, New York, 10016, United States, elizabeth.galletta@gmail.com