Os efeitos das estratégias comunicativas dos interlocutores: sentenças construídas por usuários de Comunicação Alternativa com Paralisia Cerebral

Abstract

The scientific literature highlights the promising effects from the Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) use by individuals with language spoken disabilities. Among the resources used by AAC by this population, the ones which stand out are communication cards, communication boards and communication software with Speech Generator Device (SGD). Also highlighted are the strategies used by their communication partners during interaction process. The objectives of this current study are to evaluate the effects of the use of one communication software (TobiiDynavox Snap™+Core First®) which uses the graphic resources and SGD and the effects of communication strategies used by communication partners towards the linguistic skills of AAC users, with cerebral palsy and without intellectual disability. More specifically, it will evaluate such effects in the user’s expressive vocabulary expansion, complete sentences construction frequency used in their different environments. Two young female volunteers aged between 26 and 35 years old, AAC users, had participated in this study the researcher as the intervention agent, besides two communication partners and one research assistant. The data was collected during the attendance which took place at LATECA (ProPEd/UERJ) facilities. A quasi-experimental design was applied with intrasubject research of AB Type Base Line, Intervention. The results indicate the significant responsibility from the communication partners during conversations processes and unveil the lack of intervention from AAC users to help them to be more active communicators. It is concluded that the deployment of intervention programs with AAC users and their communication partners contributes to a more balanced relationship and conversation. Further studies need to evaluate the AAC users’ feedback from their communication partners strategies to improve conversation process and facilitate the social inclusion in a natural environment.