Seeking research participants: How does conversation flow in fluent aphasia?

Student speech and language therapists Alison Hilton and Jessie Scott, alongside Dr Suzanne Beeke, are investigating self-monitoring, awareness and conversation in Wernicke’s and other fluent aphasias. They would be interested to hear from people with fluent aphasia who would happy to video record their conversations with family or friends at home, which will then be analysed by the students to learn more about how conversation flows in fluent aphasia, what helps and what interrupts it.

Fluent aphasia is characterised by a normal rate and rhythm of speech, long sentences and no long pauses. A key feature is that the words and sentences used may not make sense to the listener, although the person speaking may not recognise this and become frustrated when not understood.

The key criteria for taking part are:

• > 6 months post-stroke
• Not currently receiving speech and language therapy through NHS services
• Presence of a conversation partner (not necessarily a family member but someone the participant regularly engages in conversation with)
• Consent to being video recorded
• No significant hearing or visual impairment (excluding symptoms of age-related hearing loss)
• No co-occurring mental health issues or progressive neurological conditions e.g. dementia

Alison and Jessie will be glad to speak with anyone who has queries and can provide more detailed information. They can be contacted by email:
alison.hilton.14@ucl.ac.uk
jessie.scott.14@ucl.ac.uk

or via the Clinic’s telephone number.