1. Effectiveness of Group Intervention for
Persons with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Naomi Beale, B.A., M.S. SLP1; Aimee Mooney, M.S., CCC-SLP/L1,2; Melanie Fried-Oken, PhD, CCC-SLP2
1Portland State University, 2Oregon Health and Science University
INTRODUCTION
PARTICIPANTS
RESULTS
Modes of Communication Survey: (scale: 1 = never to 5 = always)
∆ between pre- and post- assessment
What Is PPA?
A neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by deterioration of language processing.
Reduced participation in social activities.
Goals for intervention must :
target impairments in order to maintain functional communication
plan for decline in communication as well as other domains
Challenge: How can clinicians provide group intervention in PPA?
Emerging treatments:
impairment based
compensation based
Psycho-educational
Meet needs throughout the progression of the disease
Persons with PPA and their partners
address needs simultaneously
share successes/failures
experience peer education resulting in confidence and well-being
METHODS
Length of Relationships
Mean: 38 years
Range: years
All participants were Caucasian
All participants reported English as primary language
Pre-Assessment data incomplete for communication partner C due to family emergency.
Persons with PPA:
5 out of 5 participants reported an increase in number of modes used.
All 5 participants reported an increase in the usage of key-wording.
All 5 participants reported an increase in the usage of a personalized communication book.
4 out of 5 participants reported and increase in the use of scripts.
Communication partners:
4 out of 5 communication partners perceived an increase in numbers of modes used.
3 out of 5 communication partners reported increased use of key-wording, personalized communication book, scripts and native apps on mobile devices.
METHODS
Sessions held twice weekly for one hour; intervention lasted 6 weeks.
Communication Strategy Training Modules:
Week 1 - PPA education + training Partners in Key-wording.
Week 2 - Low Tech AAC (PPA wallet cards & comm books)
Week 3 - Daily Communicative Supports Remnants
Week 4 - Scripts
Week 5 - Technology and Native Apps (Phone
Week 6 - Optimizing Communication - intentional multi-modal communication support
Pre- and post- assessment included administration of Modes of Communication Survey
DISCUSSION
People with PPA and their communication partners reported increased use of targeted communication modes after participating in a group intervention model.
Results indicate that a group format for service delivery is an effective intervention that allows participants to integrate targeted strategies and use skills functionally to communicate effectively.
Participant Comments:
Important to be with others who understand; to connect and have community
Wish we would have learned about multimodal communication earlier in disease
Helpful to explore other ways of communicating and to intentionally practice them
Limitations:
Participants in the group presented with different PPA variants and were at different disease stages. These factors may have effected outcomes.
QUESTIONS
Do persons with PPA show changes in use of targeted modes of communication after participation in 6 weeks of multimodal communication strategy training provided in a group intervention?
Is group intervention an effective format for persons with PPA? ?
REFERENCE
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all research participants and communication partners; participating first-year graduate clinicians in PSU Cognition Clinic; Portland State University advisor Sarah Key-DeLyria PhD, CCC-SLP