title: The loneliness experiences of young adults with cerebral palsy who use alternative and augmentative communication.
abstract: Young adults with cerebral palsy who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems may be at increased risk of loneliness due to the additional challenges they experience with communication. Six young adults, aged 24-30 years, who used AAC and had cerebral palsy, participated in in-depth interviews to explore their experiences of loneliness as they made the transition into adulthood. A total of five major themes in the data were identified using the constant comparative method of analysis. Three of these themes were discussed by all participants: (a) Support Networks, (b) AAC System Use, and (c) Technology. The authors concluded that these three themes were most important in understanding the experiences of loneliness of the young adults with cerebral palsy who participated in this study.
authors: University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. lauren_cooper@hotmail.com
authors: Lauren
authors: L
authors: Cooper
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Balandin
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Trembath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult