Navigating the Intricate World of Aphasia Apps: a Guide for Individuals with Aphasia and Their Families

EasyChair Preprint no. 6581

Abstract

People with aphasia (PWA) rely on speech-language therapy to enhance their recovery. It has been shown that the first months post-stroke are critical for developing a treatment plan that will maximize language improvement (Bogal et al., 2003). Current evidence also suggests that continued therapy promotes further recovery in the chronic stages (Brietenstein et al., 2017; Fleming et al., 2021). Given the reduced availability of in-person speech therapy sessions and limited insurance coverage for ongoing speech-language therapy, there is a constant need for digital tools that could supplement in-person therapy. In addition to the demand for digital aphasia therapies, there is also the necessity of a tool for navigating these technologies specifically for PWA. To solve this problem, we aimed to design a map for individuals seeking to supplement their in-person speech therapy. We systematically reviewed desktop and mobile speech therapy applications for both tablets and computers and then designed a format in which they could be easily accessed by individuals with a wide range of language deficits. During this process, we consulted with PWA and licensed speech language pathologists in creating an interface that was easily navigable for all stages of language recovery. The final applications list was determined based on four criteria: ease of use, quality of instruction, quantity of information, and efficacy of the implemented therapy. With the rapid advancement of technology, the integration of app-based speech therapy and traditional approaches is inevitable and could potentially usher in more individualized neuroscience-based speech therapy (Lambdon Ralph, 2021). Efforts must be made to make these innovations accessible to those who require them. The hope is that the described tool can aid in the individualization of aphasia therapy and facilitate access to these online tools for PWA in order to promote uninterrupted intensive therapy for continued recovery.

Keyphrases: aphasia, Aphasia Applications, assistive technologies, computer applications, resource, Speech Language Therapy, Speech therapy applications, tool, user-friendly

@Booklet{EasyChair:6581,
  author = {Anjelica Vance and Amber Richardson and Alexis Pracar and Jessica Lawien and Sandhya Kannan and Vanessa Anderson and Nina Dronkers and Maria Ivanova},
  title = {Navigating the Intricate World of Aphasia Apps: a Guide for Individuals with Aphasia and Their Families},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint no. 6581},

  year = {EasyChair, 2021}}