Logoclicks

Aphasia

Aphasia is a disorder that can result from brain injury. It can present as a disorder in different language modalities: language understanding, reading, speaking and writing. Therapeutic interventions can lead to (partial) recovery. Research demonstrates that high dosage and personalization of aphasia therapy can have a positive effect on recovery. 

Online platform

Logoclicks is developing a validated online therapy platform where people with aphasia can have intense and personalised therapy, under professional supervision of a speech-language therapist or aphasia therapist. This platform is an addition to existing aphasia therapy methods.

With this platform, the intensity and frequency of therapy can be increased and the results can be recorded clearly and per treatment session. This way, the therapist can gain a more realistic view on the progress being made by the person with aphasia. The expectation is that the effectivity of this aphasia therapy will increase, whereas costs will decline because of shorter treatment time. 

In this project, literature review, qualitative research and desk research are performed. 

Feedback and instructions

• Literature review of different forms of giving feedback and instructions during aphasia therapy. Which forms are effective to improve performance of people with aphasia during aphasia therapy (focusing on naming words)?
• Qualitative research on the implementation of different types of feedback and instructions by experienced speech-language therapists or aphasia therapists, using semi-structured interviews.

Usability

Literature- and desk research on demands that can be put on (development of) exercise applications/software for people with aphasia. In collaboration with Logoclicks, researchers will develop a first prototype.

Massed practice

Literature review on ‘massed practice’ (practicing frequently, intensively and repetitive) within aphasia therapy for the outcomes to be as big as possible.

Several students of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences will be involved in this project:

• Second-year students Speech-language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Health Care Technology will work together in multidisciplinary teams
• Third-year students Speech-language Therapy work for the module Research and Internationalization
• Fourth-year students Speech-language Therapy are graduating on this project