Adolescents' experiences of communication following ABI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adolescents' experiences of communication following acquired brain injury
IRAS ID
151611
Contact name
K A Buckeridge
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Brighton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 23 days
Research summary
The Children’s Acquired Brain Injury Interest Group (2011) estimates at least 3,000 children per year will acquire serious disability as a result of acquired brain injury (ABI). Follow up studies of this group have been recommended to determine the long term impact of ABI on speech, language and communication. Adolescence is a time when communication with other people can become difficult. This is more likely for those with ABI. Some researchers have asked parents about the lives of young people with ABI but there is not much information about what they themselves think or feel. This study aims to give a small number of adolescents with ABI the opportunity to say what the everyday experience of communication is like for them.
Adolescents of secondary school age (age 11 to 16) who had an ABI at least a year ago will be invited to participate in the study by lead clinicians of acquired brain injury clinics which run at Chailey Heritage Clinical Services, Sussex Community NHS Trust. The aim is to recruit seven adolescents. Once consent has been obtained from a parent of each participant and the participant themselves, one interview lasting for no more than an hour will be undertaken with the participant. The researcher will have questions prepared for the interview but will not stick rigidly to these. The aim of the interview is to give each participant the opportunity to talk about things which have affected them personally. Participants will be interviewed in a room at Chailey Heritage Clinical Services. The interview will be audio recorded. If the participants become upset during the interview or find it stressful, psychological support will be available if needed from a Specialist in Behaviour and Psychological Therapies.
This study aims to inform health and other professionals what communication is like for children with ABI.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1784
Date of REC Opinion
12 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion