Primary Progressive Aphasia

The goal of our research is to determine whether using Augmentative and Alternative Communication technology improves conversation in everyday settings for individuals with primary progressive aphasia. We have developed several applications that are accessed through personal tablets at home.
For more information about primary progressive aphasia, please contact Aimee Mooney, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P/L.
Steven Bedrick, Ph.D. (above), on using science and technology to assist individuals with primary progressive aphasia.
Visit our Primary Progressive Aphasia Playlist on YouTube to watch more videos that explain how our technologies can help individuals with primary progressive aphasia and their families.
Our research on primary progressive aphasia
Grant abstracts
Here you will find short descriptions of the grants that we are currently working on in primary progressive aphasia.
Publications
Writing papers about our work is an important part of the research process. The papers you will find here have been included in conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals:
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Mooney, A., Beale, N., Fried-Oken, M., (2018). Group Communication Treatment for Individuals with PPA and Their Partners. Seminars in Speech and Language, 39(3), 257-269
- Mooney, A., Bedrick, S., Noethe, G., Spaulding, S., & Fried-Oken, M. (2018). Mobile technology to support lexical retrieval during activity retell in primary progressive aphasia. Aphasiology, 32(6), 666-692.
- Fox, L.E., Sohlberg, M.M., &Fried-Oken, M. (2001). Effects of conversational topic choice on outcomes of augmentative communication intervention for adults with aphasia. Aphasiology, 15(2), 171-200.
Presentations
Every year our diverse team attends conferences around the country and presents the important work we are doing:
- Aimee Mooney presented a webinar entitltled "Application of Systematic Instruction principles for training use of AAC in adults" for the United States Society for AAC (USSAAC). Access the webinar
- Effectiveness of a group intervention model for people with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), N. Beale, A. R. Mooney, M. Fried-Oken, Oregon Speech-Language & Hearing Association (OSHA) 2018 Conference.
- An AAC Social Media Intervention for People with Primary Progressive Aphasia, A.R. Mooney, M. Fried-Oken, G. Noethe, S. Bedrick, K. Gorman, S. Spaulding, A. Golinker, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) 2016
- PPA Treatment Update: Standardizing Care for Non-Standard Aphasia, M.L. Henry, A. Mooney, D. Mordhardt, ASHA 2015
- An AAC Pilot Study to Support Conversation in Persons with Primary Progressive Aphasia (poster), R. Pryor, A. Mooney, G. Noethe, M. Fried-Oken, ASHA 2015
- Communication Supports for Individuals with Language Impairments, Oregon Speech and Hearing Association (OSHA) Annual Convention, 2016
- AAC for persons with PPA, Webcast, Melanie Fried-Oken, PhD
- Evidence to Support AAC Treatment for PPA, American Academy of Neurology, Honolulu, Hawaii, April, 2011
- Communication Boards Support Conversation in PNFA, ASHA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November, 2010
- Aging Well with Dementia: Supporting Conversational Skills of Individuals with Progressive Aphasia, Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities, April, 2010
- Evidence for AAC Treatment in Nonfluent Progressive Aphasia, ISAAC, Barcelona, Spain, July, 2010
Community input
Here you will find articles and other writings from community members with lockd-in syndrome who are participating in our research. You will also find newsletters featuring our research.
Resources for individuals and families
Communication supports
We hope you will find these handouts helpful for those with primary progressive aphasia:
Useful websites
Below, you will find links to online resources that we find useful. We encourage research participants and their families to take a look: