title: Evaluating the effectiveness of a communication board training program.
abstract: This study introduces a technique for systemically observing the consequences of various aspects of treatment on the communicative effectiveness of nonspeaking persons using communication boards in natural settings. The case study of Kay, a 24-year-old nonspeaking woman residing in a nursing home, is presented. Three major factors were found to operate cumulatively in increasing Kay's overall communicative effectiveness: 1) revising the design of her original communication board; 2) training her to functionally use her new board to meet her daily communicative needs; and then 3) introducing interaction strategies to her listeners through an inservice training program. Highlights of Kay's and her staff's programs are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000293:injuries; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*