title: Using Virtual Technology to Promote Functional Communication in Aphasia: Preliminary Evidence From Interactive Dialogues With Human and Virtual Clinicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the feasibility of using a virtual clinician (VC) to promote functional communication abilities of persons with aphasia (PWAs). We aimed to determine whether the quantity and quality of verbal output in dialogues with a VC would be the same or greater than those with a human clinician (HC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Four PWAs practiced dialogues for 2 sessions each with a HC and VC. Dialogues from before and after practice were transcribed and analyzed for content. We compared measures taken before and after practice in the VC and HC conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results were mixed. Participants either produced more verbal output with the VC or showed no difference on this measure between the VC and HC conditions. Participants also showed some improvement in postpractice narratives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results provide support for the feasibility and applicability of virtual technology to real-life communication contexts to improve functional communication in PWAs.
authors.forename: Michelene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalinyak-Fliszar
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keshner
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rudnicky
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Teodoro
mesh_terms: D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D014584:User-Computer Interface