Colours & Symbols (CAS) supported communication tool case series v0.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Repeated measures case series to investigate the use of Colours and Symbols (CAS) as a low-tech supported communication tool, across 10 parameters, in comparison to supported communication alone by five people with aphasia (PwA) and their Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs).
IRAS ID
250652
Contact name
Sarah Banfield
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS West Suffolk Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 16 days
Research summary
Aphasia is a language difficulty often acquired as a result of stroke. It is highly variable but can result in difficulties speaking, reading, writing and understanding. Supported communication is a method that uses simple written words and drawings alongside speech, facial expression and gesture to help people with aphasia (PwA) to understand and participate in conversation. Colours and symbols (CAS) is a set of icons with single words, attached to magnets that can be used on a magnetic whiteboard as a tool to have a supported conversation. It aims to allow the person with aphasia to make selections and choices and have more control in directing conversation compared to the traditional approach as it reduces the burden of writing and drawing for both the clinician/conversation partner and the PwA.
This project aims to gauge opinion of five PwA by trialling conventional supported communication over six 30 minute sessions, which is routinely used as therapy, then comparing it to supported communication using CAS over six 30 minute sessions, by completing an aphasia friendly questionnaire. The clinicians will also be asked their opinion of the tool using a questionnaire.
Five trial sites within England will be sought to participate, asking speech and language therapists familiar with supported communication to identify PwA they are working with as potential participants. They will explain the project and gain consent using aphasia friendly materials. These may be NHS or university sites under the supervision of an experienced speech and language therapist.
The results will identify whether the PwA and clinicians find the tool useful and usable in supported communication. The results will also be used to refine the tool e.g. identify any icons that are hard to understand or additional icons that would be helpful. The anonymised results may be presented as a poster or for publication.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0274
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion