Visual Analogue Communication: An Avenue of Investigation and Rehabilitation of Severe Aphasia

Journal/Book: Aphasiology. 1995; 9: 4 John St, London, England WC1N 2ET. Taylor & Francis Ltd London. 321-341.

Abstract: This paper argues that aphasic individuals' visual communication (VIC) performance is revealing of their residual capabilities for representing experience. It is suggested that VIC learners may depend not only on their preserved linguistic knowledge and VIC training, but also on visual analogue heuristics according to which symbol representations are interpreted as illustrating physical characteristics of objects and events. Results are reported from three evaluations of VIC communication by one individual, and a brief study comparing relative success experienced by her and by six additional individuals using VIC, and using a technique designed to take advantage of visual analogue heuristics. These results are discussed in relation to the concept of mapping deficits, to support the claim that comparison of performance with visual linguistic representation and with visual analogue representation may provide an effective means of characterizing aphasic individuals' preserved abilities, and a basis for designing effective augmentative techniques.

Note: Article C Goodenoughtrepagnier, Univ Memphis, Sch Audiol & Speech Language Pathol, Memphis Speech & Hearing Ctr, 807 Jefferson Ave, Memphis, TN 38105 USA

Keyword(s): ARGUMENT STRUCTURE REPRESENTATIONS; SENTENCE PROCESSING DEFICITS; AGRAMMATIC PATIENT; COMPREHENSION; THERAPY; NOUNS; VERBS; ASSIGNMENT; IMPAIRMENT; RETRIEVAL

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