| Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder, characterized by difficulty comprehending and/or producing language. When aphasia results from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), speech and language difficulties may be accompanied by cognitive disorders due to the diffuse brain damage caused by the TBI. Diffuse brain injury can result in problems involving different cognitive processes such as attention, memory, and executive functioning. One current treatment method for those with aphasia is communication partner training, which involves both the individual with aphasia and a communication partner. Communication partner training programs support the notion that communication is transactional and interactional. Topics of treatment usually include education about aphasia and its impact on communication, counseling of one or both parties, and strategies for communicative success. Strategy training is directed towards the communication partner in order to support the individual with aphasia. However, current aphasia communication partner training programs do not address cognitive impairments present in an aphasia that is the result of a traumatic brain injury. The aim of this study is to improve communication between the participant and the communication partner by modifying a communication partner training program designed for individuals with aphasia to include partner education of traumatic brain injury and techniques that will address the co-existing cognitive deficits to provide a more comprehensive partner training program for this population. One individual who presents with aphasia as a result of a TBI and a communication partner was recruited for the study. Results indicated that the communication partner learned multiple facilitative strategies and increased her use of those strategies, leading to fewer and less disruptive communication breakdowns, more balanced communicative exchanges between the participant and the communication partner, and a higher level of participation in conversation of the participant. |
