Online communication training for caregivers of people with aphasia

Summary by: docjanjum1

What did the researchers aim to find out?

The researchers wanted to find out if:

An online training using Zoom could help caregivers talk better with their loved ones who have aphasia.
Caregivers could learn new ways to support communication, like using gestures, simple words, and giving extra time to respond.
The training would make caregivers feel less stressed and more confident.
If student clinicians in speech-language pathology (SLP) or speech-language therapy (SLT) could provide this help over Zoom.
If families could use this training at home.

What type of research was done?

The researchers did a pilot study using a case study design.
A pilot study helps to try out an idea before doing a bigger study.
This means they worked closely with a small number of people (two caregiver–aphasia pairs) to test if the online training could work.
They gave questionnaires before and after the training to see if anything improved.
They also watched what happened during the sessions and wrote down important notes.

Results of the research

The researchers found that:

Online training using Zoom helped caregivers talk more easily with their loved ones who have aphasia.
Caregivers learned useful strategies like using gestures, simple words, and giving extra time to respond.
Caregivers felt less frustrated and more confident after the training.
Student clinicians were able to give helpful support through Zoom.
Families were able to use this training at home to communicate in real-life situations.

Why was the research done?

People with aphasia often have trouble talking after a stroke.
Caregivers also find it hard to know how to help with communication.
Many caregivers do not get training or support. This can lead to stress, frustration, and fewer conversations.
The researchers wanted to test if online Zoom training could help caregivers talk more easily with their loved ones at home.

What does the research mean for me and others?

You and your caregiver can learn new ways to talk together.
Training can happen at home using Zoom—no need to travel.
You may feel less frustrated during conversations.
Your caregiver may feel more confident and calm.
This training can help you stay connected with family, friends, and your daily life.

What research methods were used?

The researchers completed a pilot study with two pairs (a person with aphasia and their caregiver).
The training was given online using Zoom once a week for 12 weeks.
Graduate students studying speech-language pathology (SLP) or speech-language therapy (SLT) provided the training.
Caregivers answered questionnaires before and after the training.
The team also took notes during the sessions to see what worked well.

How to obtain the treatment detailed in the research?

Ask your speech-language pathologist (SLP) or speech-language therapist (SLT) if they offer caregiver communication training.
Look for university speech clinics near you. Many offer free or low-cost services with student clinicians.
Ask if the clinic provides online (telepractice) sessions using Zoom or similar tools.
Tell your care team you are interested in learning communication strategies together with your caregiver.
You can also ask local stroke or aphasia support groups if they know about similar programs.

Background information on the research topic

Aphasia is a condition that makes it hard to talk, understand, read, or write. It often happens after a stroke.
Many people with aphasia are cared for by family or friends, called informal caregivers.
Conversations can be hard for both the person with aphasia and the caregiver.
Caregivers often don’t get training to help with communication. This can lead to stress, confusion, and fewer conversations.
Teaching caregivers simple communication strategies can help both people feel more connected.
This study tested if online training could help caregivers learn how to support better communication at home.

Risks related to the research

There were no physical risks from taking part in the training.
Some caregivers may have felt tired or emotional when talking about difficult moments.
Using Zoom might be frustrating if there are internet problems.
Some people may worry about privacy during online sessions.
The research team made sure all sessions were private and safe, and help was available if needed.

Who was allowed to take part in the research?

Adults who had aphasia from a stroke at least 1 year ago.
People with aphasia who lived with or spent most of their time with a caregiver.
Caregivers who were family members or close friends with the person with aphasia.
People who used English as their main language.
People who lived in North Dakota, USA.
People who could join the training online using Zoom.

Information about the people who took part

Two caregiver–aphasia pairs (called dyads) took part in the study.
Both people with aphasia were older men who had strokes several years ago. One had global aphasia and the other had Broca’s aphasia.
Both caregivers were women and the main support person for their partner. One caregiver was a wife the other was a long-term romantic partner.
All four people lived in North Dakota, USA, and joined the training from home using Zoom.
The caregivers and people with aphasia attended weekly sessions for 12 weeks.

Why was the research done this way?

Many people with aphasia live in rural areas and cannot travel to speech clinics.
In-person care can be hard to reach because of distance, time, or cost.
Caregivers often feel stressed and don’t get training to help with communication.
When conversations are difficult, both people may feel frustrated or left out.
The researchers wanted to see if online training using Zoom could help caregivers feel more confident and support better conversations at home.
They also wanted to test if student clinicians could give this training safely and clearly through online training.

When was the research done?

The research was done over a period of 12 weeks in 2022.

Where was the research done?

Bismarck, North Dakota, USA.

Where did the money came from?

The current study was supported by the University of Mary Faculty Research Grant awarded to Javad Anjum.

Problems with the research

Only two caregiver–aphasia pairs took part, so the study was very small.
The researchers only looked at short-term changes, not long-term results.
It is hard to say if the improvements came only from the training, since both pairs also got aphasia therapy at the same time.
People might have had tech problems during Zoom calls but didn’t always report them.

Is the research trustworthy?

The research was approved by a university ethics board to make sure it was safe and respectful.
The training was given by graduate clinicians with help from experienced supervisors who were either speech-language pathologists (SLPs) or speech-language therapists (SLTs).
The researchers used questionnaires and notes to check if the training helped.
The study was small, so more research is needed with more people.
Even though it was a small study, the results were positive and showed that online caregiver training can help.

Next steps

Do the study again with more people to see if the results stay the same.
Test if the benefits last over time by checking in after a few months.
Try the training with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Study the effects of caregiver training by itself, without aphasia therapy at the same time.
Make the questionnaire better to show small changes in communication.
Keep offering this training in rural and hard-to-reach areas using Zoom

Where to find information related to the research?

International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Nov 2024 issue

Website: https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2024.2409137

PubMed ID: 39486444