Using longitudinal qualitative research to explore the experience of receiving and using augmentative and alternative communication.

Background: People who have communication difficulties may benefit from using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Understanding and measuring outcomes from the use of AAC is an important part of evaluating the impact of devices and services. Outcome measurement needs to reflect the changing nature of the impact of using AAC on an individual's ability to participate in activities of daily life.

The Unspoken Voice: Applying John Shotter's Dialogic Lens to Qualitative Data from People Who have Communication Difficulties.

As speech and language therapists, we explored theories of communication and voice that are familiar to our profession and found them an inadequate basis on which to generate deep and rich analysis of the qualitative data from people who have communication difficulties and who use augmentative and alternative communication. Expanding our conceptual toolkit to include the work of John Shotter allowed us to reconceptualise voice and where it is emergent in dialogue. Reimaging voice will inform clinical and research praxis with people who have communication difficulties as it allows practitioners to attend more closely to the complexity and nuance inherent in interactions with this population.

A qualitative evidence synthesis of the experiences and perspectives of communicating using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

Purpose: This paper presents a review of the existing qualitative research literature concerning people's experience of communicating using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The aims of conducting this review were to find out more about the values and outcomes that are important to people about the AAC they use to support their communication. This review was conducted to provide a deeper understanding of these experiences to inform the development of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM).

Masking care: A qualitative investigation of the impact of face masks on the experience of stroke rehabilitation from the perspective of staff and service users with communication difficulties.

Background: Face mask use has become widespread as a means of reducing transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Research suggests face coverings can impact speech discrimination, therapeutic alliance and the interpretation of non-verbal cues. However, there is little research into the impact of face masks on people with communication difficulties (pwCD) post-stroke.

Using nominal group technique to advance power assisted exercise equipment for people with stroke.

Background: Power assisted exercise is accessible and acceptable for people with stroke. The potential for technological advancement of the equipment to improve the user experience has been identified. Involvement of end users and service providers in the design of health technologies is essential in determining how said technology is perceived and adopted.

Creativity in public involvement: supporting authentic collaboration and inclusive research with seldom heard voices.

Background: The role of public involvement (PI) in healthcare research is growing in importance and it is imperative that researchers continuously reflect on how to promote the inclusion of patients and service users in the design and delivery of research. PI offers a mechanism for end-users to be involved planning, executing, and reporting research. Some patient groups, including people who have communication difficulties, may struggle to engage in the methods traditionally employed to promote PI engagement such as questionnaires and focus groups.

Appraising the quality of tools used to record patient-reported outcomes in users of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC): a systematic review.

Purpose: People who have complex communication needs (CCN), and who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to help them express themselves, can be difficult to engage in decision making about their healthcare. The purpose of this review was to identify what patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been employed with people who use AAC. Of the tools identified, the review aimed to establish what conceptual frameworks were used and how the reports describe completion of the PROM.

Exploring the Perspectives of People Who Use Alternative and Augmentative Communication Aids (AAC).

This paper outlines the clinical doctoral research plan (funded by HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Programme) to engage the wide range of people who use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) to understand the perspectives of users in order to develop a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) to evaluate equipment and services.