Group therapy for spouses of aphasic patients.

The setting, course, and results of a counseling and a therapeutic group for relatives of chronic aphasic patients are reviewed. Generally, providing and discussing information on the illness, its consequences, and medical and social services are greatly appreciated by group members. Counseling and group psychotherapy, as conducted by us, did not result in measurable improvements of relatives' perceptions of personal, social, and familial burdens. We assume, however, that group therapy does lead to more realistic attitudes toward burdensome and severely straining situations and may help with coping. Further research into psychotherapeutic strategies for relatives of disabled persons, who themselves suffer from psychological and social handicaps, is needed.

Communicative skills in chronic and severe nonfluent aphasia.

A diagnostic tool was developed for the investigation of communicative skills in nonfluent aphasic patients suffering from moderate or severe language deficits. Communicative skills and neurolinguistic deficits were assessed in 20 patients suffering from Broca's or global aphasia. Comparative data analysis revealed remarkably low correlations between communicative and neurolinguistic deficits. In nonfluent aphasic patients with severe linguistic impairment communicative abilities and non- and paralinguistic compensatory efforts and skills accounted for their efficient performance.

Nonverbal communication as a compensative strategy for severely nonfluent aphasics? A quantitative approach.

Seven severely nonfluent aphasics and one relative or close friend were investigated in an interview situation. The conversation was videotaped and analyzed for the use of nonverbal communication between aphasic and partner. The results indicate that the group of aphasics used significantly more frequently and for a significantly longer period of time nonverbal channels of communication than their healthy partners. The aphasic patients also used significantly fewer speech-focused movements and significantly more codified gestures. Nonverbal elements were more frequently used as speech substitutes by the group of aphasics.

Treatment of chronic global aphasia with a nonverbal communication system.

Four chronic global aphasics were treated with Blissymbols (C. K. Bliss, 1965, Semantography-Blissymbolics, Sydney: Semantography Pub.). As soon as possible the therapeutic communication was based solely on the use of the symbols. Three patients seemed to benefit from therapy. In one case therapy had to be discontinued because of massive perseveration. In one patient expression of needs relied solely on the use of the symbols. In another, expressive speech could be restored to such an extent that communication by the use of symbols was discontinued.