Self managed word finding treatment using a computer for people with aphasia in the longer term post stroke

One third of people have ongoing difficulties with speaking, understanding, reading and writing after a stroke (aphasia). It is difficult to provide face to face therapy  beyond the first few months due to limited resources, despite the fact that some people are known to improve with continued language practice. The CACTUS project (funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme and South Yorkshire CLAHRC) piloted an approach to enable provision of continued therapy for people with aphasia. The approach included: input from a Speech and language therapist to tailor computer exercises to the individual’s needs; independent use of the computer programme StepbyStep©; volunteer support to use the computer and practice new words in everyday conversation.

In the pilot study, 34 people with long standing aphasia were randomised to using StepbyStep© for 5 months or continuing with usual language activities through everyday conversation and support groups. Nearly all (89%) of those eligible for the intervention expressed interest in self-managed word finding training on a computer, suggesting a high level of acceptance of the concept. Of the 16 participants on the project, 10 completed the training per protocol of 20 minute sessions three times per week for five months. The treatment group showed significant improvements in the percentage of words named correctly compared to the control group. The pilot data suggested that this approach is likely to be cost effective and researchers now applying for funding to conduct a larger trial to assess this further. 

[written by Dr Rebecca Palmer, please contact her on r.l.palmer@sheffield.ac.uk for more information]

Dissemination and communication - the MALT project

One of the things we're interested in as part of the RAT group is disseminating our research to a wide audience. With this in mind, we've been working with the professional web design team at Rckt  to design a website for one of our projects, Overcoming the Barriers to Mainstreaming Assisted Living Technologies.

Why not have a look  at our new MALT website and learn more about our cross-university, interdisciplinary project which is currently focusing on learning more about the faciliators to mainstreaming telehealth in Yorkshire and the Humber?

Dr Rebecca Palmer awarded HEFCE-NIHR Senior Clinical Lectureship

Dr. Rebecca Palmer

Dr Rebecca Palmer from the RAT research group has recently been awarded a Senior Clinical Lectureship sponsored jointly by HEFCE and the NIHR.

Dr Palmer is a Speech and Language Therapist by background, specialising in adult neurological conditions. Since gaining her PhD from Sheffield University in 2006, she has combined health research and clinical practice. Rebecca worked on the stroke unit at the Northern General Hospital for 5 years. Currently she is the Rehabilitation Trials Manager for the Trent Stroke Research Network and conducts her own research within the Stroke and Telehealth themes of the South Yorkshire CLAHRC.

Dr Palmer will be continuing her research into use of self managed computer speech therapy in stroke care within the RAT research, and will also work for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to promote the implementation of the research into practice through SY CLAHRC.

Giving Voice Sheffield event

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists initiated a Giving Voice campaign to highlight the challenges faced by more than 3 million people in the UK who have difficulties with communication because of impaired speech or language. Additionally this campaign aims to raise awareness of the valuable work of speech and language therapists. There are more than 5000 individuals in the Sheffield area on the books of speech and language therapists.

Some children have difficulty in learning to speak because of specific speech and language impairments, others may lose the ability to communicate as the result of illness, disease or accident. One third of those who have had a stroke will find it difficult to communicate.

Speech and language skills are often taken for granted but are key to us being able to express our personality, achieve in education and work as well as being central to many recreational activities.

Dr Sylvia Dunkley, the Mayor of Sheffield

One of the Sheffield events in this campaign was hosted by the University of Sheffield on Friday, 16 March.  It was a unique event bringing together the NHS, local authority, politicians, healthcare professionals, teachers, researchers and those who educate speech and language therapists. Paul Blomfield (central Sheffield MP), Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge MP) Sir Andrew Cash OBE (Chief Executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust) councillor Dr Sylvia Dunkley (the Mayor of Sheffield) opened the event with warm remarks reflecting on personal experiences of relatives and friends who had speech and language difficulties and received support from speech and language therapy.  Professor Pam Enderby from the Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Research group also gave a presentation.

Vice Chancellor Keith Burnett

There were moving presentations on videotape and in-person by individuals with speech and language challenges (a person who has a stammer, a person unable to communicate because of motor neurone disease, a person challenged following a stroke, the mother of the child with autism and the mother of a child with specific speech and language impairment) which  brought home to the audience the significance of the difficulties and the value of therapy. The University of Sheffield has an internationally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate course to train speech and language therapists. It is also involved in research relating to the nature of speech and language disorders as well as unique methods for providing therapy and augmentative communication.

The Vice Chancellor closed  the event drawing attention to the devastating effect of losing faculties previously taken for granted and the value of support and therapy at times of radical life change.

[written by Pam Enderby]