RESEARCH: Communication strategies of ALSers and their partners

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Communication strategies of people with ALS and their

partners.

J.

There are wider issues relating to the communication

difficulties experienced by people with amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis (ALS) than simply the physical

problems caused by diminished oral control. In

addition, existing literature on ALS rarely considers

communication to be a joint interaction which depends

on the strategies adopted by both communication

partners, nor does it present communication in real

life settings. This paper presents some of the

findings from a 3-year research project which

investigated the communication of people with ALS and

their partners in their own homes. It discusses the

purpose of human communication, and through

examination of conversations in people's own homes has

identified a range of strategies and techniques that

families with ALS employ. For some people with ALS,

although speech may deteriorate, they are still able

to communicate closely and in a way that is more

focused on topics that are particularly important to

them. The findings from this study will be of interest

to those who work with people with ALS.

SOURCE: Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron

Disord. 2004 May;5(2):121-6.

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