Group Communication Treatment for Individuals with PPA and Their Partners
What is the name of the article?
Group Communication Treatment for Individuals with PPA and Their Partners
What was the goal of this study?
The goal of this study was to show the benefits of group communication treatment for people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and their family members.
What did we find?
This program provided education on PPA signs and symptoms, and new methods of communication to adjust to living with PPA. It also provided social support by working with a group of people with PPA and their family members.
What did we learn?
Communication treatment in a group setting can improve conversational skills, increase social ability, and build community for people with PPA. The group of participants in this study showed increased coping skills and their quality of communication improved. There is a beneficial social aspect of group communication treatment that greatly improves the lives of people with PPA and their family members.
Why is this important?
People with PPA have a greater risk for depression. They often feel isolated and withdraw from social activities due to their loss in language functions. This treatment program style allows them and their family members to meet other people facing similar challenges, while learning about coping with PPA and expanding the ways that they can communicate.
Who are the authors of the study?
Aimee Mooney, M.S., CCC-SLP1, Naomi Beale, M.S.2, and Melanie Fried-Oken, Ph.D., CCC-SLP1,
Authors from: 1. OHSU Institute on Development and Disability, 2. Portland State University Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences
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. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1660784.
Key Words:
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA): A degenerative disorder in which a person experiences a loss in language expression and understanding.
Group Communication Treatment: A six week program held twice a week to educate about PPA and to introduce new ways to communicate. The program was developed and lead by Speech and Language Pathologists and graduate students.