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New publications

Predictors of aspiration pneumonia: developing a new matrix for speech and language therapists

Ball, L., Meteyard, L., & Powell, R. J. (2023). Predictors of aspiration pneumonia: developing a new matrix for speech and language therapists. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 1-14.

Exemplary clinical academic work by Laura Ball, Clinical Lead Speech & Language Therapist based at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. She conducted a historic case note review, extracting data for 152 individuals. She then classified whether the individuals developed aspiration pneumonia, and whether 20 risk factors were present. Risk factors were taken from the existing literature, identifying those known to be important for the development of aspiration pneumonia. The aim of the paper was to identify what weighting SLTs should give to various factors. Of the 20 factors, seven were found to be significant predictors. Random Forest analyses were used to generate a weighting score that could be applied to each risk factor, and used in a matrix that clinicians can use to consider the risks that a person has for the development of aspiration pneumonia.

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A feasibility study of teleassessment for people with aphasia in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait

Altaib, M. K., & Meteyard, L. (2022). A feasibility study of teleassessment for people with aphasia in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Aphasiology, 1-25.

One of the first studies to compare the use of Telepractice for Speech & Language Therapy assessment in Gulf Arabic countries. Previous studies have shown TP to be comparable to the traditional face-to-face (FTF) delivery method for the assessment of PWA. However, these studies have largely been conducted in Western, English-speaking countries. This study evaluates the feasibility of TP to assess PWA using the Short Aphasia Test for Gulf Arabic speakers (SATG). The feasibility study adopted a within-subject cross-over study design, involving 19 individuals with post-stroke aphasia aged 25–64. Each participant was assessed twice using the SATG, once with each delivery method (FTF and TP) and the scores were compared. We collected a number of feasibility measures, including a comparison of the scores for FTF and TP. Anecdotal cultural influences on participant preferences for TP were noted by researchers. There were no significant differences between the two methods in overall scores, but auditory comprehension assessment was affected by poor internet connectivity. High satisfaction with TP was reported, and participants reported a preference for some FTF contact to support setting up TP and prior to the first TP session. Practical considerations for implementing TP are discussed and the paper highlights the influence of cultural aspects on the use of videoconferencing.

What is Functional Communication? A Theoretical Framework for Real-World Communication Applied to Aphasia Rehabilitation

Doedens, W. & Meteyard, L. (2022). What is Functional Communication? A Theoretical Framework for Real-World Communication Applied to Aphasia Rehabilitation. Neuropsychology Review (published online 25.01.2022).

Open access from Neuropsyhology Review

The best outcome for aphasia rehabilitation is that it improves the individual's day to day communication. However, a wealth of evidence shows that typical impairment based approaches (e.g. naming therapy) do not always generalise to what is called 'functional communication'. There is no agreed definition of functional communication, a heterogenous set of outcome measures are used to tap into this ill-defined concept, and there are no consistent guidelines on how Speech  & Language Therapists should try to target  it during therapy. This position paper and review presents a theoretical framework that defines functional communication as 'situated language use' (Clark, 1996): it is (a) interactive, (b) multimodal and (c) based on common ground/contextualised. Using this framework we present a theoretically motived way to target functional communication in assessment and therapy, reviewing the relevant evidence from healthy adults and individuals with aphasia.