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Abstract
Following traumatic brain injury, impaired communication can inhibit an individual's ability to function in the community. In order to determine accurately an individual's ability to communicate in everyday situations, the investigator must know initially what communication activities are required for daily living and then have a reliable method of gauging the individual's performance in those activities. In the present study, the communication activity range, frequency and communication domain of 10 individuals in New Zealand with traumatic brain injury were compared with a matched control group of 10 non-injured citizens. In addition the range and frequency of communication partners were compared. Each participant was observed for a period of five hours, usually in two and a half hour periods, within a one-week time frame. A participant observer model was utilized. Observations were recorded on a communication activity sheet and a pragmatic profile. The record sheet detailed the communication activity context, duration, participants and domain. Interrater reliability studies showed 82% to 100% agreement whilst intra-observer reliability was 84% to 100%. Results were analysed using qualitative and quantitative procedures and found that social chat, an interactional communication activity rather than a transactional communication activity, was the most frequently occurring communication activity. Significant differences were found between participants with TBI and their matched controls on the number of activities, types of activities and number of communication partners, but there was no significant difference in the duration of communication activities. The results provide a basis for a functional assessment of communication activity that is highly relevant to New Zealanders with a traumatic brain injury.