This study investigates communicative performance in people with severe restriction in verbal output due to non- fluent aphasia. Such individuals are trained to use an alternative communication program called C-Speak Aphasia. This program is picture-based and operated on a Mackintosh computer. Using C-Speak, patients learn to select icons from semantic-category groups and combine them to form novel messages that can be spoken aloud by the computer s speech synthesizer. This project proposes to conduct a controlled study of treatment outcomes in people with aphasia who are trained to use C-Speak. The study uses a multiple baseline design to determine whether patients improve communication on several tasks while using C-Speak, compared to communication without C-Speak. Communication performance is probed repeatedly during a 4-6 month training period with 5 tasks; providing autobiographical information, describing pictures and observed events, communicating via writing, and telephone communication. Linguistic factors related to semantic processing and cognitive factors related to executive functioning are hypothesized to be related to individual aphasic patients abilities to communicate using C-Speak. These factors will be assessed during baseline testing, and used as predictors in a multiple regression analysis to investigate whether they predict changes in participants ability to use C- Speak for functional communication. Finally, two experiments relating to semantic functioning and executive system function will also be completed using the subjects who undergo C-Speak training. Scores on these measures will also be used as predictors of successful C-Speak usage.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21DC005371-01
Application #
6364794
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHD1-RRG-K (16))
Program Officer
Cooper, Judith
Project Start
2001-09-01
Project End
2004-08-31
Budget Start
2001-09-01
Budget End
2002-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$157,500
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
604483045
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02118
Nicholas, Marjorie; Sinotte, Michele P; Helm-Estabrooks, Nancy (2011) C-Speak Aphasia alternative communication program for people with severe aphasia: importance of executive functioning and semantic knowledge. Neuropsychol Rehabil 21:322-66