Functional Communication: Panacea for Persons with Aphasia (PWA)

Abstract

Optimal treatment outcome can be witnessed by methodically working on the functional communication skills and progressively move up the hierarchy to achieve effective communication. Since a complex interplay between various levels of linguistic skills exists, reinforcing relatively holistic skills like that of functional communication is hypothesized to strengthen other linguistic skills. Therefore, the present study aims to highlight the positive results of working on functional communication skills on the domains of Naming, Repetition, Comprehension and Expres- sion using the Manual for Adult Aphasia Therapy (MAAT). This study involved comparing the scores of the 1st, 7th, 14th and the 21st sessions of Speech-Language Therapy using MAAT. The therapy outcomes of 20 PWAs in the age range of 19-70 years were examined. A general trend of improved scores across sessions was found across all participants in the domains of Functional Communication, Naming, Repetition and Comprehension & Expression. Also, correlation between the distinct domains of the manual was demonstrated. The authors have qualitatively described the correlation between Functional Communication and the other prospective domains since the former can facilitate improvements in the latter.