Yutesler_Faroqi-Shah

Background: Communication partners (CP) of persons with aphasia (PWA), such as their family members and significant others, need to adjust their communication patterns to accommodate the challenges of aphasia. They may choose to simplify their language or use more gestures to accommodate the language deficits of the PWA. Other behaviors, such as interruptions, corrections or showing frustration, could be deleterious to effective communication. Knowledge of communication behaviors of CPs and their attitudes towards communication is important for intervention planning. Prior research has shown that CP behaviors can be modified with intensive (7 hours or more) of communication partner training (CPT).Aims: The first aim of this study was to investigate patterns of communication behaviors exhibited by CPs of PWA. The second aim was to examine CPs attitudes towards communicating with PWA. Finally, this study examined the effect of a half-day training workshop on CP communication behaviors. Methods & Procedures: Eleven CP-PWA dyads participated in a training workshop that focused on identification and practice of facilitating, barrier and repair behaviors. A Caregiver Attitude Survey was administered. Ten minute semi-structured conversations between the CP and PWA recorded before and after the workshop. The conversations were analyzed for specific behaviors using conversation analytic approaches and compared from pre- to post- training.Outcomes & Results: Facilitating behaviors, such as head nodding and asking yes/no questions, were more frequent than barrier or repair behaviors in this group of participants. CPs expressed positive attitudes about communicating with PWA, although CP attitude ratings were not correlated with types of behaviors. Facilitative and repair behaviors increased and barriers decreased following communication partner training, especially for dyads in which the PWA’s aphasia severity was more than minimal. The behavioral change was not correlated with CP’s attitude ratings about communication. Conclusions: Conversation behaviors and attitudes were faciliatory and positive in this cohort of CPs, who self-enrolled in the communication partner training. A half-day training workshop has the potential for positively affecting communication behaviors in communication partners, especially when the aphasia severity is more than minimal. This study provides detailed conversational analysis procedures for future research and clinical application.