Systematic Study of the Effectiveness of AAC Intervention to Improve Conversation in Individuals with Degenerative Language Disorders.
Oregon Health and Science University. 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road. Portland, OR 97239.
E-mail:friedm@ohsu.edu. Principal Investigator: Melanie Fried-Oken, PhD; Charity Rowland, PhD. PI Phone: 503/494-7587, 503/494-2263. Public Contact Phone: 503/494-2619. Project Number: H133G080162. Start Date: October 1, 2008. Length: 36 months. NIDRR Officer: Thomas Corfman. NIDRR Funding: FY 08 $200,000; FY 09 $200,000; FY 10 $200,000. Abstract: This project continues previous research in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) tool use for adults with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) resulting from frontotemporal lobar dementia. Project objectives include: (1) to test the extent to which AAC intervention is associated with changes in conversation for persons with moderate Alzheimer's disease and persons with primary progressive aphasia under controlled conditions; (2) to test the extent to which AAC use is associated with daily functional changes in conversation for the two participant groups under natural conditions; and (3) to describe the behavioral and socio-relational characteristics of caregiver/partners and participants who display improved conversational skills with AAC treatment. Research is conducted with 100 adults from the Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers in Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA. AAC devices are customized for each participant with specific vocabulary depicting autobiographical memories and functional activities. Each participant engages in a spaced retrieval priming task followed by videotaped conversations with and without the AAC device in six controlled conversations with a research assistant (Study 1), and six practical context conversations with a caregiver (Study 2). Spontaneous AAC device use in the home is tracked for six months following Study 2 conversations. This project provides scientific data that influences management guidelines to improve daily conversational functioning of persons with degenerative language loss secondary to moderate Alzheimer's disease and PPA so that they may: (1) express their own needs and desires; (2) reduce care giving costs by facilitating communication between caregivers and their charges; and (3) increase quality of life for both caregivers and their charges with dementia. Descriptors: Alzheimer's disease, Aphasia, Assistive technology, Augmentative and alternative communication, Communication devices, Dementia.
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