Investigation of Communication Abilities and Quality of Life for people with Aphasia by using Talking Mats as a treatment method in Speech and Language Therapy

Abstract

Background: Talking Mats (TM) is a tool used in the Augmentative and Alternative communication field. It can support people with complex communication needs, such as people with aphasia. Existing research on TM focus on its use as a communication instrument (Murphy, Cameron & Boa, 2013). Objective: This study explores for the first time the effects of using TM in Speech and Language therapy as a treatment method on communication abilities and Quality of Life (QoL) in a person with aphasia. Methods and Procedures: The study followed an AB design with multiple baselines. The participant is a 35 year old female with mild, anomic aphasia, 6 years post onset. At baseline levels, the Western Aphasia Battery and the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 (SAQOL-39) was administered to the participant, followed by a 10 days consecutive use of TM in a therapeutic setting. Results: The biggest improvement was captured in word fluency by 25, 58%. The mean of the psychosocial score decreased by 9, 86%. Conclusion: TM might serve as a method to train vocabulary recall and discourse in people with anomic aphasia. It is suggested, that a decrease in QoL is correlated to the Covid-19 restrictions during this study.