Factors Influencing AAC Usage by Individuals With Aphasia

Abstract

Instructing individuals with aphasia in the usage of AAC strategies and devices is a challenging endeavor. Not only does this population present with a wide range of linguistic impairments, but many individuals also demonstrate cognitive deficits, which may adversely affect communication. This paper will summarize the wide variety of cognitive deficits demonstrated by individuals with aphasia, specifically attention, memory and executive functioning problems. In addition, we will review the impact of these cognitive impairments on communicative competence. Finally, we will discuss an intervention, the Multimodality Communication Training Program (MCTP), designed to address the cognitive impairments that influence AAC intervention.