Purpose
: verify the communication forms and linguistic-cognitive performance of aphasics from an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) perspective and to evaluate their perception.
Methods
: this is a longitudinal research with qualitative approach, approved by the Ethic and Research Committee. The sample includes 5 non-fluent subjects with aphasia. Data was collected analyzing the subjects’ files, video records of speech and language therapy focused on AAC, and the subjects opinions about it.
Results
: subjects used several ways of communication to express themselves as well as increased their use of AAC. In doing so, they demanded less gestures support during the study, which facilitated their communication and diminished guessing and frustrated conversation attempts. The use of AAC resulted in the increase of oral production. Subjects referred that they enjoyed using AAC and that it contributed to their communication in some way.
Conclusion
: results showed that AAC support contributed to subjects so they could assume their position as speakers, overcoming their language difficulties. Therefore it has facilitated them to assume themselves as linguistic and social subjects. Dialogic and contextualized activities, as well as the interlocutor mediation, facilitated the process of (re)signification of their enunciations. Therefore, regarding this context, AAC is an important support that mediates and facilitates the linguistic process on non-fluent aphasias with repercussions on oral production.
Aphasia; Communication Aids for Disabled; Language; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
