AAC Processing Support for Spoken Language in Aphasia

描述（由申请人提供）：基于pc的通信系统（CS）是为成人获得性失语患者开发的。它作为一个“处理假体”，通过离线的语音信息创建，最大限度地减少对快速检索和工作记忆的需求。作为一种AAC设备，CS已被证明可以提高失语者在叙事生产任务中的流利性和语法表达。作为一种治疗工具，在家中独立练习后，它可以改善无辅助生产。这项建议将扩展计算机语言系统的功能，使用户能够将计算机语言系统生成的适合特定情况的信息传送到掌上电脑上，掌上电脑可在现场部署，以补充或提示现实世界实时通信中的语言生产。我们的目的是创造一种AAC设备，它不仅能在这些情况下传递适当的信息，而且还能让使用者展示他或她的智力能力，这可能被语言障碍所掩盖。提出了一项实验来评估增强型系统（CS加手持：CS- hh）是否以及如何有利于失语症患者在预期的模拟服务遭遇（例如，医疗检查）中准备的信息交流。实验将比较一组在这些模拟遭遇中训练使用CS-HH的人与另一组训练使用传统语言和非语言策略来弥补口语缺陷的人（对照组）。实验组和对照组将在总共五次服务会面上进行比较：其中三次是在治疗师主导的会议上进行培训，另外两次是在没有治疗师参与的情况下进行准备（泛化测试）。预测是，实验组将使用CS-HH在他们训练和准备的遭遇中更有效地沟通。第二项研究将使用定性技术（焦点小组，半结构化访谈）来探索患者对他们在服务和其他遭遇中的沟通能力的评估，以及他们对技术和传统沟通辅助工具（例如图画书，手势）的态度。据预测，在模拟服务遭遇中使用CS-HH后，患者将认为自己比开始时更有效地沟通，并将积极倾向于在未来使用该AAC设备。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The PC-based Communication System (CS) was developed for adults with acquired aphasia. It acts as a "processing prosthesis" by taking spoken message creation off-line and minimizing demands for fast retrieval and working memory. Used as an AAC device, the CS has been shown to enhance aphasics' fluency and grammatical expression in narrative production tasks. Used as a therapy tool, it resulted in improved unaided production after independent practice in the home. This proposal will extend the functionality of the CS by making it possible for the user to transfer CS-generated messages appropriate to specific situations onto a hand-held computer, which can be deployed in situ to supplement or cue language production in real-world, real-time, communication. The intention is to create an AAC device that will not only enable the transfer of information appropriate to these situations, but also will allow the user to demonstrate his or her intellectual competence, which may be obscured by the language disability. An experiment is proposed to evaluate whether and how the enhanced system (CS plus handheld: CS-HH) benefits aphasics' communication of messages prepared in anticipation of simulated service encounters (e.g., a medical examination). The experiment will compare a group trained to use CS-HH in these simulated encounters with a second, closely matched group, that is trained to use conventional verbal and nonverbal strategies to compensate for their spoken language deficits (the control group). Experimental and control groups will be compared on a total of five service encounters: three that subjects train for in therapist-led sessions, and two that they prepare for without therapist involvement (the generalization test). The prediction is that the experimental group will use the CS-HH to communicate more effectively both in the encounters they train for and in those they prepare themselves. A second study will use qualitative techniques (focus groups, semistructured interviews) to explore patients' assessment of their communicative competence in service- and other encounters, and their attitudes toward communication aids, both technological and conventional (e.g., picture books, gestures). It is predicted that after using the CS-HH in simulated service encounters, patients will view themselves as more effective communicators than they did at the start and will be positively disposed to using this AAC device in the future.