Cog Neuro Digital Speech Therapy: Feasibility Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Digital Speech Therapy Solution for Stroke, Brain Injury and Progressive Neurological Disorders: The Cog-Neuro Mobile Speech Therapy Solution
IRAS ID
240355
Contact name
Sheiladen Aquino
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cwm Taf University Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
There are more than 150,000 strokes and 162,000 brain injuries every year in the UK with treatment and productivity loss resulting in societal costs of £8.9 billion and 4.1 billion a year. Stroke, brain injury survivors and people with progressive neurological diagnosis often leave hospital wiath a communication impairment (aphasia, dysarthria, dyspraxia and dyslexia). Speech therapy has seen drastic budget cuts leading to long waiting times due to staff shortage yet the number of patients requiring speech therapy is increasing rapidly. We are proposing to explore the potential of using a fully mobile integrated platform which provides intensive and early speech therapy rehabilitation to patients with communication difficulties. This 6 month feasibility study will investigate what aspects of design and user interface could support effective speech therapy provision and has the potential to improve the quality of life of people with communication difficulties after a stroke, brain injury or progressive neurological diagnosis.
The Centre of Excellence in Mobile Emerging Technology (CEMET), University of South Wales will develop emerging mobile technology platforms and we will recruit a total of four neuro speech therapists within Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) and Cwm Taf University Health Board (CTUHB) to understand the requirements of this solution. The speech therapists will be trained to conduct user experience testing and will then recruit 20 patients who are currently receiving speech therapy. The speech therapists will be the only people who will have direct contact with the patients. The researchers will not have direct patient contact or access to patient identifiable information. Participants (speech therapist & patients)will be asked to give feedback on the design and functionality of the software program using questionnaires and structured interview questions. It is envisioned that this research will introduce a technology that will aid to deliver a more efficient speech therapy service.
REC name
Wales REC 2
REC reference
18/WA/0226
Date of REC Opinion
21 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion