AAC Processing Support for Spoken Language in Aphasia

描述(申请人提供)：基于PC的沟通系统(CS)是为成人获得性失语症开发的。它起到了“加工假肢”的作用，使语音信息的创建离线，并最大限度地减少了对快速检索和工作记忆的需求。作为一种AAC手段，CS被证明能提高失语者在叙事任务中的流利性和语法表达能力。作为一种治疗工具，在家中独立练习后，它导致了独立生产的改善。这项提议将扩展CS的功能，使用户能够将CS生成的适合特定情况的消息传输到手持计算机上，该计算机可以在现场部署，以补充或提示真实世界的实时交流中的语言产生。目的是创造一种AAC设备，不仅能够传输适合这些情况的信息，而且还允许用户展示他或她的智力能力，这可能会被语言障碍所掩盖。建议进行一项实验，以评估增强型系统(CS加掌上电脑：CS-HH)是否以及如何有利于失语症患者在预期模拟服务遭遇(例如，医疗检查)时准备好的消息通信。这项实验将比较一组受训在这些模拟遭遇中使用CS-HH的受试者和另一组密切匹配的受试者，后者接受训练，使用常规的语言和非语言策略来弥补他们的口语缺陷(控制组)。试验组和控制组将在总共五次服务接触上进行比较：三次是受试者在治疗师指导的会议中进行培训，两次是他们在没有治疗师参与的情况下准备的(泛化测试)。预测是，实验组将使用CS-HH在他们训练的相遇中和在他们自己准备的相遇中更有效地沟通。第二项研究将使用定性技术(焦点小组、半结构访谈)来探索患者对他们在服务和其他接触中的沟通能力的评估，以及他们对沟通辅助工具的态度，无论是技术上的还是常规的(例如，图画书、手势)。据预测，在模拟服务接触中使用CS-HH后，患者将认为自己比开始时更有效地沟通，并对未来使用这种AAC设备持积极态度。

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.