SP-3-02-E-02
FACTORS FACILITATING FUNCTIONAL USE OF AAC IN SEVERELY DYSARTHRIC PATIENTS
Setsuko Ogawa (JR Tokyo General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan)
Toshio Hosaka (Koshu Rehabilitation Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan)
Purpose: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) means were introduced to seven severely dysarthric patients who were incapable of using speech or writing for effective communication. The factors determining the functional use of AAC were investigated.
Method: Seven dysarthric patients, aged between 45〜71, underwent AAC training. The following AAC means were trained, ?@ yes-no responses, ?A communication board, ?B computerized communication aids, and ?C speaking canule. The training proceeded in the following sequences, i.e., selection of appropriate AAC means for the patient, training of their use, and finally, the functional use of the means.
Result: All the patients succeeded in communicating basic needs using some combinations of the above AAC means (?A〜?C) in addition to ?@. Among the seven cases, five used the means functionally. However, two patients used them only when others suggested the use of AAC means. In one patient, the speed of progression of the disease surpassed the adjustment to secure communication with appropriate device. The other patient had difficulty accepting the use of AAC in addition to the problem on the part of the people around him (her) who decline the use of time-consuming devices in communication.
Conclusion: In order to facilitate functional use of AAC means, factors such as 1) selection of appropriate means, 2)sequential training, 3)motivating patients and listeners, 4)adjusting communication environment to meet the needs of the patients were found to be important variables.
SP-3-02-E-03
EFFICIENT COMPUTERIZED COMMUNICATION FOR PERSONS WITH ALS: ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD LAYOUTS BASED ON PALS' FREQUENCY OF KANA USE
Tomoko Yamamoto (Sayama Neurology Hospital, Saitama, Japan) Ikuyo Fujita (The International University of Health and Welfare, Tochigi, Japan)
Efficient AAC systems are critical for tracheostomized people to maintain quality of life. However Kana charts column-row style scanning with a single switch is a time-comsuming process. We think that acceleration strategies for typing, such as frequency layout keyboards are important to reduce the number of keystrokes that the users must make. To do this we analysed Etran messages (20,156 Kana letters) of a person with ALS and calculated the frequency of Kana use. This frequency ranged from 0-0/00 to 63.6-0/00. Comparing this with other PALS' writings, we discovered significant similarities in frequency amongst individuals. These results indicated that the frequency of use of each key should be taken into consideration in order to improve speed of scanning of the on-screen keyboards. In this presentation we will discuss the design of frequency layout of Japanese keyboards.
