The communication needs of young and old cerebrovascular accident survivors

Date
2018-03
Journal Title
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) are a growing epidemic in developing countries such as South Africa, resulting in an increase in CVA-related morbidity, which includes communication impairments. CVAs have traditionally been viewed as a disease of the elderly, but there is an increase in the prevalence of young CVA survivors. This quantitative descriptive cross-sectional research aimed to describe the communication needs of young and old CVA survivors in the following five communication areas: difficult communication situations, difficult communication skills, preferred communication strategies, preferred conversational topics and preferred literacy skills. The results obtained from the 62 participants (i.e. 22 young and 40 old CVA survivors) who completed the Aphasia Needs Assessment (Garrett & Beukelman, 2006) highlight that their personal and social communication needs have to be addressed before those that are environmental in nature. Furthermore, the findings suggest that difficult communication skills have to be identified before difficult communication situations and preferred topics can be addressed. Speech-language therapists working within the South African context are often confronted with challenges such as high unemployment, poverty, poor literacy levels and adverse circumstances, thus making the use of appropriate assessment criteria and management approaches challenging. Speech-language therapists are therefore recommended to identify CVA survivors’ unique barriers and facilitators to ensure appropriate intervention.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Serebro-vaskulere ongelukke (SVO) is ‘n groeiende epidemie in ontwikkelende lande soos Suid Afrika, en veroorsaak verhoging in verwante morbiditeit, wat kommunikasie afwykings insluit.. SVO is tradisioneel gesien as ‘n siekte van die ouer populasie maar daar is huidiglik ‘n groei in die prevalensie van jong SVO oorlewendes. Die kwantitatiewe, beskrywende deursnee navorsingsontwerp poog om die kommunikasie behoeftes van jong en oud SVO oorlewendes te beskryf in die volgende vyf kommunikasie areas: moeilike kommunikasie situasies, moeilike kommunikasie vaardighede, verkose kommunikasie strategiee, verkose gesprekstemas en verkose geletterdheidsvaardighede. Resultate van die 62 deelnemers (22 jong en 40 oud) wat die Afasie Behoefte Assessering (Garrett & Beukelman, 2006) voltooi het beklemtoon dat persoonlike en sosiale kommunikasie behoeftes eerste geaddresseer moet word voor omgewing kommunikasie behoeftes. Verdere resultate stel voor dat moeilike kommunikasie vaardighede eerste geidentifiseer moet word voor moeilike kommunikasie situasies en verkose temas geaddresseer word. Spraakterapeute wat binne ‘n Suid Afrikaanse konteks werk, word dikwels gekonfronteer met uitdagings soos: hoë werkloosheid, armoede, swak geletterdheidsvaardighede en omstandighede, en daarom word die gebruik van toepaslike assessering kriteria en behandeling benaderings bemoeilik. Daar word dus aanbeveel dat spraakterapeute die SVO oorlewendes se unieke hindernisse en fasiliteerders identifiseer om toepaslike intervensie te verseker.
Description
Thesis (MSL&HT)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Cerebrovascular disease -- Patients, Cerebrovascular disease -- Patients -- Social aspects, Speech disorders -- Needs assessment, Older people -- Medical care, Aphasic children -- Medical care, UCTD
Citation