Tracking changes in conversation during and after communication partner training: an exploratory study

ABSTRACT

Background

While communication partner training (CPT) is recommended in the treatment of aphasia, more research on the long-term effect of CPT is needed to enhance the knowledge base about its effects.

Aim

To measure the effects both during training and maintenance phases of a CPT offered to a spouse of a man with aphasia by using quantitative and qualitative procedures.

Method

One couple participated in 8 sessions of CPT. Conversations were recorded at baseline, throughout the intervention and three months post-intervention. The intervention targeted the type of questions asked by the spouse and the use of extended pauses in conversation. We defined these behaviors and counted their occurrences using a software. Visual analysis and standard deviation band analysis were performed. Also, the spouse participated in a semi-structured interview before and after intervention, which was analysed qualitatively.

Outcomes & Results

Positive changes were observed during intervention – more open-ended questions were produced, and the number of pauses increased – but these improvements were not maintained three months later. The spouse reported that CPT had changed their daily communication and that it provided support for her.

Conclusions & Implications

The quantitative results gave precise and specific information on how the spouse responded to CPT overtime and that could lead to suggestions regarding the content of the intervention in order to promote maintenance in future studies. The qualitative analysis reflected the broader impact of CPT on the couple’s communication.

KEYWORDS:

• communication partner training
• communication partner
• stroke
• aphasia
• couple

Acknowledgments

The participants’ involvement is gratefully acknowledged. We would also like to thank Ève Nadeau, Geneviève Baril, Hélène Lefebvre, Annie Rochette, Julie Provost and Jessica Sauvé-Dupont for their help and support in this project. We also thanks Albyn Davis and Nina Simmons-Mackie for their valuable comments on this work. Paméla McMahon-Morin carried out a part of this research for her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the Université de Montréal under the supervision of Claire Croteau.

Disclosure conflicts of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by grants from the Réseau Provincial en Adaptation-Réadaptation (Québec Rehabilitation Research Network) [09-10DN-01]and Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montréal to Claire Croteau.