Manual for Adult Non-Fluent Aphasia Therapy-in Kannada (MANAT-Kannada)

Abstract

Language treatment for the aphasic patient has taken many different forms. Some methods, such as Schuell and Associates ( 1964), stimulation treatment, were designed to be adaptable to aphasic patients in general whereas Melodic lntonati1 Therapy (Sparks, 1981) applies only to patients who meet specific language profile criteria treatment varies in their underlying philosophies. Some derive directly from the aphasiologists belief of what aphasia represents. It is assumed that the clinician is not teaching new material to the aphasic patient, but rather is attempting to improve, reorganize, or maximize the efficiency of the impaired language system. The training material are available in English, but in Indian context a very few attempts have been made. One such manual for aphasia therapy in English has been developed by Longerich, (1968). A manual for treatment of adult non-fluent aphasics in Hindi was also developed by Despande, (2004). Thus there is a need for the development of a manual in Kannada. The present manual consists of five sections namely Functional Communication, Repetition, Comprehension, Expression, and Naming. The illustrations of various activities are based on the principle of aphasia management. Scoring and progression criteria are also provided. This manual would provide the clinician as well as the caregiver with a readymade training material.