Clinical Trial: Support Staff-client Interactions With Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Active, not recruiting
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Support Staff's Interactions With Adults With Intellectual Disability Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Brief Summary: This exploratory and observational study focuses on adults with an intellectual disability (ID) and their support workers. Two groups of clients are observed: clients using Key Word Signing, and clients using aided Augmentative and Altenrative Communication (AAC). Approximately half of adults with ID is estimated to experience communication difficulties. AAC supports them in their daily communication aiming at optimal participation in society. Current communication models, such as Participation Model (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2005) and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO, 2001), regard both client-related and environmental factors as important elements of communication. A substantial part of the environmental factors is made up of the communication partners' characteristics. In daycare and residential services for adults with ID the support worker is an important communication partner .
Detailed Summary:
This study aims to:
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with regard to teaching Key Word Signing (KWS), a specific form of AAC, to support workers:
Analyse the relation between training method, support workers' attitude, and short and long term sign knowledge.
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with regard to the use of AAC in everyday communication between support workers and adults with ID:
- Identity the support workers' characteristics that may influence the quality/quantity of the communication between adults with ID who use AAC and their support worker.
- Analyse the nature of this influence as well as any possible interaction effects with the clients' characteristics.
- Assess whether an existing instrument, designed for measuring interactions between parents and children with cerebral palsy using AAC, may be used with adults client and support workers.
Sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
Current Primary Outcome: Communicative functions in interaction between support worker and AAC-using client with intellectual disability [ Time Frame: One-time measurement ]
Original Primary Outcome: Same as current
Current Secondary Outcome: Characteristics of direct care staff working in residential facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities [ Time Frame: One-time ]
Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current
Information By: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
Dates:
Date Received: March 24, 2014
Date Started: January 2015
Date Completion: December 2017
Last Updated: May 11, 2016
Last Verified: May 2016
