Browsing by Author "Selkämaa, Raisa"

Aims. Every person with aphasia has some kind of problems with finding words. The aim of this multi-case study was to find out how people with aphasia (PWA) and their conversation partners (CP) adapt to aphasic conversation and collaboratively participate in word search. The emphasis was on the ways the CPs act on the word searches. Word finding difficulties are highlighted in aphasic interaction which can lead to problems with maintaining self-esteem and social relationships in life. Conversation is always a collaborative phenomenon which is why it is important to examine the actions of the CPs of PWA. Methods. This study was a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis. The participants were 3 dyads: 53 years old man with fluent moderate aphasia and his conversation partners (wife and daughter) and 61 year old woman with fluent severe aphasia and her husband. The data consisted 105 minutes of video material where the aphasic people were having everyday conversation with their CPs. The videos were transcripted and all the word searches were identified. Word searches that expanded into collaborative activity were analyzed with conversation analysis and the ways of CPs participated in them were categorized. The most commonly used categories of participation in conversation were analyzed more in detail. Results and conclusions. Altogether 82 word searches were identified from the data from which 50 of them were analyzed as collaborative word searches. Nine categories of participation were identified from the turns of CPs from which completion, interrogative word offer and specified question were the most commonly used. Also actions that enhanced the asymmetry of the conversation were identified and one dyad had more of those than the other dyads. Both of the PWAs used verbal and nonverbal behavior in the word searches. This shows that it is important to offer as addition to indirect therapy, also interaction based therapy for the PWA and the CP for them to learn and practice communication skills in everyday life. In the field of language and speech therapy PWA are the biggest group of adults who need rehabilitation. Because of the great need of rehabilitation it is important for the individual and for the society that we develop intervention methods and increase the knowledge about aphasia.