Thank you to SLP Hsuan-Mei Huang for sharing this case!
The patient suffered an ICH (intracerebral hemorrhage) stroke and was hospitalized, resulting in right hemiplegia and aphasia. Her verbal expression could not meet her daily communication needs.
The SLP used AAC to intervene, thinking from a social perspective about how to help the patient interact with others and build relationships.
In the video, you can see the patient press “You’re so cute!” on her AAC device. The therapist responds warmly, and the patient breaks into a big smile.
The greeting page (made with the Go Talk app) includes other options popular among her age group, such as: “Do you have a boyfriend? Are you married? Do you have kids?”
When working with aphasia patients, do we consider how to help them establish or maintain social relationships with family and others?
Communication purposes go beyond expressing needs. They also include:
- Sharing information
- Building / maintaining social closeness
- Using social etiquette
(Light, 1988)
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