Clinical studies have proven the AllTalk's effectiveness, and decades of research on aphasia and rehabilitation technology have shaped its development. Data has shown that patients who use the AllTalk improve their natural speech over the long term and become more adept at using the device for communication in everyday situations. Lingraphica's chief scientist, Richard Steele, has authored dozens of articles that describe this data in detail. The following abstracts provide a summary of selected findings.
- Natural Language Typically Improves with Lingraphica Use and Practice Over Time
- Patients Improve Many Years after Stroke
- Beneficial Outcomes with Lingraphica Are Not Related to Age
- User Satisfaction with the Lingraphica Is High
- Benefits Are Widespread
- Users Are Creative in Finding Ways to Use the Lingraphica Beneficially
1. Natural Language Typically Improves with Lingraphica Use and Practice Over Time
This graph shows improvements in natural language among persons with a severe expressive aphasia (specifically, severe Broca's aphasia) after using the Lingraphica for five months. Lingraphica users in all groups show overall significant improvements. One quarter of users moved from severe to moderate levels; another 10% advanced all the way to mild aphasia; and the 64% whose aphasia remained severe improved markedly within that category.
More detail in Richard D. Steele. "Improvements in chronic Broca's aphasia at impairment and functional communication levels following SGD Practice and Use." Presented at the Clinical Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) Conference. September 28, 2007, Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky, 2007.
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2. Patients Improve Many Years after Stroke
People with aphasia show significant gains in their natural speech communication following Lingraphica use and practice, regardless of how much time has passed since their aphasia began. Even years after their strokes, people can make large and important improvements in their everyday communication.
More detail in Lefkos B. Aftonomos, James S. Appelbaum, Richard D. Steele. "Improving outcomes for persons with aphasia in advanced community-based treatment programs." Stroke, vol. 30, no. 7, pp. 1370-79, 1999.
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3. Beneficial Outcomes With Lingraphica Are Not Related to Age
Adult users in all decades of life have shown significant and comparable improvements in clinical outcome studies that use standard assessment instruments. In plain terms, there is no reason for persons with aphasia to think that they are either "too old" or "too young" to benefit significantly.
More detail in Richard D. Steele, Lefkos B. Aftonomos, Marilyn W. Munk. "Evaluation and treatment of aphasia among the elderly with stroke." Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 98-108, 2003.
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4. User Satisfaction with the Lingraphica Is High
Ongoing surveys of persons with aphasia who have received the Lingraphica show how the devices are employed<the phrase "show.employed" is not related to this graph--I'd leave it out or add it at the end> and with what levels of satisfaction. A poster presentation at the 2006 national convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association reported that most Lingraphica users were highly satisfied, with over 70% reporting satisfaction at the highest level on the scale.
More detail in Richard D. Steele. "How do persons with aphasia use their Lingraphica SGDs." Poster Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's 2006 Annual Convention. Miami, FL, November, 2006.
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5. Benefits Are Widespread
The authors of the 1989 Communicative Effectiveness Index for persons with aphasia identified 16 different communication situations of importance to persons with aphasia. These included expressing emotions and communicating physical ailments such as aches and pains, among others. The bar graph shows that persons with aphasia who used the Lingraphica registered large and often striking improvements in each of these communication situations, without exception.
More detail in Richard Steele. "Clinical outcome studies and evidence-based decision making for AAC in aphasia." Poster Presentation at the ASHA Division of AAC Conference on Evidence-Based Decision Making in AAC. Atlanta, GA, February, 2007.
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6. Users Are Creative in Finding Ways to Use the Lingraphica Beneficially
Individuals use the Lingraphica in a wide variety of ways, learning over time what works best for them, how, and why. Many users find it most helpful for rehearsing and repeating words by clicking on icons. Others use it to support face-to-face communication, to prepare and rehearse for upcoming events, or to make and revise lists. All of these ways are equally valid, and the individual user is typically in the best position to know when to reach for the Lingraphica, and why.
More detail in Richard D. Steele. "How do persons with aphasia use their Lingraphica SGDs." Poster Presentation at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's 2006 Annual Convention. Miami, FL, November, 2006.
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