Examining conversational characteristics of persons with chronic aphasia during three group conversations

Abstract

This study recorded and analysed conversation samples from a group of six people with chronic aphasia during three different sampling conditions. The authors examined each group member's verbal output using components of SALT for Windows ® (Miller & Chapman, 1999) and a preliminary conversational-turn rating system. Results showed high variability in the SALT data (i.e., quantitative performance) and slight variability in the preliminary conversational-turn ratings (i.e., qualitative performance) for participants in each conversational topic. Possible key features of aphasia group communication were identified. New directions for aphasia group study are discussed.