Linguistic and cognitive supplementation strategies as augmentative and alternative communication techniques in huntington's disease: Case report

Abstract

Huntington's disease is a hereditary, neurodegenerative disorder with motor, cognitive, and emotional deficits that have a profound effect on the ability to communicate and must be considered when implementing augmentative communication interventions. A therapy approach employing both linguistic and cognitive supplementation strategies was taught to a 44-year-old man with Huntington's disease. The use of a qualitative guided interview assisted in shifting the focus of assessment and treatment away from the speech impairment and on to communicative participation. The participant and his wife were able to use the strategies successfully and adapted them to meet other communicative needs.

• augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
• cognitive strategies
• communicative participation
• guided interview
• Huntington's disease
• linguistic strategies