Better Conversations with Aphasia

Principal Investigator:

Suzanne Beeke (UCL)

Co-investigators:

Firle Beckley (UCL), Wendy Best (UCL), Susan Edwards (University of Reading), Matt Mahon (UCL), Jane Maxim (UCL), Nicola Sirman (UCL), Kate Swinburn (Connect)

Funder

Economic and Social Research Council

Summary In March 2012, the UCL Better Conversations with Aphasia team, in collaboration with Connect and the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, began a 12 month Economic and Social Research Council funded project to develop a website to improve access to conversation therapy. The project is based within the Language and Communication Research department in the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences and is linked to the Centre for Speech and Language Intervention Research. The website aims to provide: - a structured online learning environment for Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to develop their skills in delivering conversation therapy. - a resource for People with Aphasia (PwA) and their family/friends who wish to find out about others’ experiences of participating in conversation therapy, and making and watching videos of themselves as part of this. The website will contain: - video clips of conversations between PwA and their families/friends - video clips of therapy in action - therapy handouts and information sheets - a range of study resources for SLTs including reflective logs and quizzes - expert views from PWA of conversation therapy and video work, in audio and video format - resources for general support In addition, users of the website will have access to an online Conversation Therapy Network for peer support. People with aphasia and Speech and Language therapists are contributing their ideas and opinions through a series of focus groups. In addition, therapists working in the South East of England have been asked to complete an online survey into their current use of conversation therapy for aphasia and continuing professional development. The online resource will be freely accessible to anyone with an interest in conversation therapy and aphasia. The team will be launching the resource at various roadshows held across the UK.
Key publications Beeke, S., Maxim, J., Best, W. & Cooper, F (2011) Redesigning therapy for agrammatism: Initial findings from the ongoing evaluation of a conversation-based intervention study. Journal of Neurolinguistics 24, 222-236. Beckley, F., Best, W., Edwards, S., Johnson, F., Maxim, J., & Beeke, S. (submitted) Conversation therapy for agrammatism: Exploring the therapeutic process of engagement and learning by a person with aphasia. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. Wilkinson, R., & Wielaert, S. (2012). Rehabilitation targeted at everyday communication: can we change the talk of people with aphasia and their significant others within conversation? Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 93(1 Suppl).
Further Information Please see the project website for further information: www.ucl.ac.uk/betterconversations/aphasia. Contact: betterconversationsaphasia@langsci.ucl.ac.uk Keywords: aphasia, conversation based interventions, online resource,

Summary

In March 2012, the UCL Better Conversations with Aphasia team, in collaboration with Connect and the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, began a 12 month Economic and Social Research Council funded project to develop a website to improve access to conversation therapy. The project is based within the Language and Communication Research department in the UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences and is linked to the Centre for Speech and Language Intervention Research.

The website aims to provide:
- a structured online learning environment for Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) to develop their skills in delivering conversation therapy.
- a resource for People with Aphasia (PwA) and their family/friends who wish to find out about others’ experiences of participating in conversation therapy, and making and watching videos of themselves as part of this.

The website will contain:
- video clips of conversations between PwA and their families/friends
- video clips of therapy in action
- therapy handouts and information sheets
- a range of study resources for SLTs including reflective logs and quizzes
- expert views from PWA of conversation therapy and video work, in audio and video format
- resources for general support

In addition, users of the website will have access to an online Conversation Therapy Network for peer support.

People with aphasia and Speech and Language therapists are contributing their ideas and opinions through a series of focus groups. In addition, therapists working in the South East of England have been asked to complete an online survey into their current use of conversation therapy for aphasia and continuing professional development.

The online resource will be freely accessible to anyone with an interest in conversation therapy and aphasia. The team will be launching the resource at various roadshows held across the UK.

Key publications

Beeke, S., Maxim, J., Best, W. & Cooper, F (2011) Redesigning therapy for agrammatism: Initial findings from the ongoing evaluation of a conversation-based intervention study. Journal of Neurolinguistics 24, 222-236.

Beckley, F., Best, W., Edwards, S., Johnson, F., Maxim, J., & Beeke, S. (submitted) Conversation therapy for agrammatism: Exploring the therapeutic process of engagement and learning by a person with aphasia. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders.

Wilkinson, R., & Wielaert, S. (2012). Rehabilitation targeted at everyday communication: can we change the talk of people with aphasia and their significant others within conversation? Archives of physical medicine and
rehabilitation, 93(1 Suppl).

Further Information

Please see the project website for further information: www.ucl.ac.uk/betterconversations/aphasia.

Contact: betterconversationsaphasia@langsci.ucl.ac.uk

Keywords: aphasia, conversation based interventions, online resource,