Current Practices in Spoken Discourse Analysis in Aphasia

EasyChair Preprint 6529

Abstract

Introduction: Spoken discourse analysis is commonly employed in aphasia rehabilitation (Brady et al., 2016). However, there is no standardization in assessment, analysis, and reporting procedures for spoken discourse, thereby precluding comparisons and replication across studies, and the establishment of a set of psychometrically and clinically relevant common data elements. An important first step is to first identify current practices in acquiring, analyzing, and reporting spoken discourse in aphasia. 

Methods: A mixed-methods survey was publicized to researchers and clinicians around the globe who were involved in spoken discourse analysis in aphasia. Data were collected between September-November 2019. 

Results: Of the 201 individuals who consented to participate, 94% completed all mandatory questions. Respondents included both speech-language pathologists and researchers. Respondents reported frequent use of discourse analysis to describe aphasia symptoms, most commonly using standardized aphasia assessments, frequent reliance on clinical judgment-based analysis with fewer using computerized transcription systems. Most reported barriers to utilizing discourse, with time cited as the most common barrier. Respondents noted a lack of and a need for psychometric properties and normative data on spoken discourse in the assessment and treatment of persons with aphasia.

Conclusions: The current study identified significant heterogeneity in discourse analysis procedures across aphasia research and clinical settings. These findings will guide the development of process standardization in spoken discourse and for the creation of a psychometric and normative property database. Additionally, investigation of discourse analysis procedures that are time-efficient (e.g., automated discourse analysis) and validated for multicultural populations warrant further empirical attention.

Keyphrases: aphasia, assessment, spoken discourse

@booklet{EasyChair:6529,
  author    = {Manaswita Dutta and Brielle Stark and Laura Murray and Davida Fromm and Amy Ramage and Tyson Harmon},
  title     = {Current Practices in Spoken Discourse Analysis in Aphasia},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 6529},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2021}}