Harnessing portable smart-camera technology (p-SCT) to support the communication skills of people with aphasia

Background Aphasia is a communication disability caused by stroke or other brain injury. It affects more than 350,000 people in the UK and has a profound impact on quality-of-life.

It is a heterogenous condition, which varies in severity and can affect all aspects of communication, including speaking, understanding language, reading and writing.

Assistive technology can be used to help people with aphasia (PwA) compensate for their language deficits, enabling improved functional communication abilities.

While there is emerging evidence that assistive technology can be used to enhance reading abilities12,13 and facilitate self-management, no previous research has explored the potential of portable smart camera technology (p-SCT) to facilitate communication. P-SCT can read text aloud and describe people, objects and scenes.

Available through smartphone apps, it is portable and relatively affordable and therefore has the potential to be harnessed as a powerful rehabilitation aid for PwA.

Aims and objectives This project has two aims: To identify current use of p-SCT in communication disabilities and rehabilitation To develop a novel intervention using p-SCT to enhance the communication skills of PwA, targeting spoken language and reading comprehension.

Methods In the first stage of the project (months 1-8), a scoping review will be conducted, investigating current use of p-SCT for people with communication disabilities and across all fields of rehabilitation. A market survey will also be conducted to explore existing, commercially available p-SCT available as a smartphone app.

In the second stage of the project (months 2-15), a novel intervention will be developed using participatory research methods.

A series of four focus groups will be held, attended by 12 people with a range of aphasia types and severities and six specialist Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs). These will explore participants existing use of technology and potential uses of p-SCT.

In addition, participants with aphasia will take part in walking interviews and carry out photo diaries, to explore and document their everyday communication challenges.

Participants will select the most useful and usable examples of p-SCT to be used in the intervention, contribute ideas for therapy activities and identify outcome measures.

Following the focus groups, a therapy manual for SLTs will be developed, containing resources to support technology training and therapy activities.

Three workshops for PwA and SLTs will be held (months 14-15) to seek feedback on the content and presentation of the manual. Anticipated impact The project will develop a novel intervention using existing technologies.

The therapy manual will provide guidance and resources to support SLTs to implement this approach in their clinical practice. Following development of the intervention, we will apply for further funding to carry out a feasibility study.

Dissemination Projects findings will be disseminated to PwA, SLTs and researchers through publications in magazines for people with stroke and aphasia, a video summary, an article in the professional bulletin for SLTs and peer-reviewed publications in academic journals.

Presentations will be delivered at conferences for SLTs, researchers and academics specialising in stroke, aphasia and Human Computer Interaction and at conferences for PwA.