ACQ Vol 13 No1 2011

Language disorders

Top 10 favourite resources The Royal Perth Hospital Team

R oyal Perth Hospital was the first hospital established in WA, and is one of Australia’s largest and busiest hospitals. It is divided into two campuses: Wellington Street (acute hospital care) and Shenton Park (the state’s primary rehabilitation centre). Our top 10 resources represent a selection of traditional assessment and therapy tools, in addition to items that we feel have great potential for the future direction of speech pathology. 1. iPad With the development of technology comes the opportunity to evaluate and incorporate innovative ideas into therapy. The potential of the iPad has yet to be fully explored; however, on an initial trial, the ease of using the touch screen, clear speech output, and great graphics have provided access to a variety of communication options that do not need to be packed into a bag and carried around the wards. The options include paint programs that allow for writing opportunities, picture symbols that can be used to support communication in sessions or to set therapy goals, and the ability to store a range of pictures and reading tasks (which can also be supported by spoken output if required). There are many applications available to explore, develop and adapt for therapeutic intervention. It is well worth having a look and considering the potential of the iPad. 2. LightWRITER ® SL40 Manufactured by Toby Churchill Ltd, available from Zyteq (http://www.zygoaustralia.com.au). This is an old favourite augmentive and alternative communi- cation device (AAC) that is portable, easy to handle and durable. Its dual displays, one facing the “user” and the other facing a “communication partner”, offer face-to-face conversation. Its storage facility offers the ability to write and save lengthy pieces of text and frequently used sentences as key-combinations, for example “Tea please, milk and one sugar” could be programmed under “TMS”. Another great function is the word prediction option. As the user types, the LightWRITER offers possible word choices. Further useful functions include alarms for wake-up calls, and appointment reminders. 3. Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) Swinburn, K., Porter, G., & Howard, D. (2004) Comprehensive aphasia test . London: Psychology Press. Available from Psychology Press, Taylor and Francis Group (http://www.psypress.com). The CAT is an assessment for people with acquired aphasia and is easy to administer and score. The main body of the test assesses expressive and receptive language skills across all modalities. The assessment provides a good structure for a therapist to develop a profile of a client’s strengths and weaknesses. The normative data is based on people with and without aphasia, and information on validity and reliability is provided. Additional sections include a cognitive section, and an optional disability questionnaire.

4. Speech Sounds on Cue Available from Multimedia Speech Pathology (http:// www.mmsp.com.au) in Miami, Qld. Speech Sounds on Cue is a multimedia software program, primarily for motor speech difficulties, that provides a self-directed or a supported alternative for practising speech sounds at the individual and word levels. The program includes cues for over 500 words, based around coloured photos illustrating targeted word meanings. There are full motion video clips which a user can watch and listen to that have been combined with auditory and written trigger phrases. The professional version also provides exercises for the target phonemes that can be printed. The program can be operated easily with either a mouse or simple keyboard control. 5. Aphasia Tutor Available from Multimedia Speech Pathology (http:// www.mmsp.com.au). These are a group of software packages, which have also been designed to assist supported or self-directed therapy. The programs have been created for clients who have had a brain injury (such as a stroke) resulting in aphasia. The

Back row: Left to Right:

David Harrison, Adrienne Miles, Angela Thewliss, Yvette Yee, Alex Hunting, Natasha Matheson, Elspeth Tranthim- Fryer, Crystal Ladzinski, Michelle Byrne, Stephanie Borrello. Front Row: Left to Right: Mary Hunt, Courtney Fraser, Melita Brown (Head of Department), Asha Peet, Libby Sinclair

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ACQ Volume 13, Number 1 2011

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au