Speaking up and being heard: The importance of functional communication and discourse principles in aphasia intervention
Abstract
This article acknowledges Audrey Holland's influence on aphasiology as it specifically relates to the emergence of a strengths-based perspective on the everyday communication of people with aphasia. We explore a historical perspective, as well as current ways in which everyday communicative events are approached in both clinical and research practice. The term functional communication is synonymous with Audrey's work, with linguistically-based discourse analysis and therapy both viewed as natural companions and extensions of the concept within aphasiology. Audrey's focus on the interactional side of communication and psychosocial impacts of aphasia, as well as her expertise in analysis and measurement, contributed to the coalescing of impairment-based and social communication approaches, encompassing a true sense of humanity and connectedness. Her application of these in international contexts was also noteworthy. In this article, we hope to capture principles of aphasia management that underpin current clinical practice, and also move beyond the traditional clinic context to consider aphasia groups that have had such a key role in promoting successful social communication by and with people with aphasia. We suggest future directions to further promote the principles advocated by Audrey Holland in assisting people with aphasia to move forward with confidence with their conversation partners, friends, and communities.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2024
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
Copyright
free_to_read
Publisher
Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
Recommended Citation
Armstrong, E., & Hersh, D. (2024). Speaking up and being heard: The importance of functional communication and discourse principles in aphasia intervention. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-1788981
Comments
Armstrong, E., & Hersh, D. (2024). Speaking up and being heard: The importance of functional communication and discourse principles in aphasia intervention. Seminars in Speech and Language, 45. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0044-1788981