IDEA Project: Stage 2

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Inclusion in the Digital Economy for Aphasia: Stage 2 - Intervention Studies

  • IRAS ID

    156253

  • Contact name

    Fiona Menger

  • Contact email

    fiona.menger@ncl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 11 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    This study has two main objectives: 1) We want to understand the barriers to Internet use for people who used the Internet before their stroke and aphasia, and 2) We want to explore possible facilitators to improve Internet use for those individuals.
    We are aiming to recruit nine triads comprised of a person with aphasia, their carer, and their speech and language therapist. All participants with aphasia will have used the internet prior to their stroke. As a direct result of aphasia, they will struggle with aspects of Internet use. For each participant, we will comprehensively assess how aphasia has affected their Internet use and how these changes impact on their daily lives. We hope to recruit people with a range of aphasia severities. We will interview the carer and the speech and language therapist in the triad at the beginning and end of the project, aiming to study the experiences of those supporting people with aphasia to use the Internet.
    Each individual with aphasia will be offered bespoke intervention tailored to their needs and their specific therapy goals related to Internet use. This may take a number of forms, e.g. rehabilitation of language skills (e.g. impaired reading), introduction to specialist software, adaptation of existing computer settings, or supportive work with a carer or volunteer.
    All participants with aphasia will undertake language and cognitive assessments before and post-intervention alongside additional assessments needed to diagnose and treat their particular difficulties. The chief investigator will carry out the interventions. Results will be evaluated individually and as a series of cases.

  • REC name

    North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/NE/0051

  • Date of REC Opinion

    25 Feb 2015

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion