Promoting linguistic complexity, greater message length and ease of engagement in email writing in people with aphasia: initial evidence from a study utilizing assistive writing software

Abstract

This study provided some initial evidence that assistive writing technologies can support people with aphasia in email writing across a range of important performance parameters. However, more research is needed to measure the effects of these technologies on the writing of people with aphasia, and to determine the optimal compensatory mechanisms for specific people given the linguistic-strategic resources they bring to the task of email writing.

Technology‐enhanced writing therapy for people with aphasia: results of a quasi‐randomized waitlist controlled study

“…Thiel et al . () similarly found that their technology‐enhanced therapy only improved writing performance when the technology was available. Therefore, they also concluded that the writing impairments of their participants were untouched, and that treatment effects were compensatory.…”

“…The first was WriteOnline TM . This incorporates word prediction, vocabulary support in the form of individualized wordbars, and text-to-speech conversion, all of which have been shown to assist people with dysgraphia (e.g., Thiel et al 2017). It also provides mind maps, which help to organize written work.…”

“…Thiel et al . () delivered a writing therapy programme to eight individuals with dysgraphia using Co:Writer ® . This assistive technology incorporates word and grammar prediction, word banks, spell checking and a text‐to‐speech facility.…”

“…For example, studies have shown that word-processing and word-prediction software can augment the effects of therapy, with benefits for at least some of those involved (Armstrong and MacDonald 2000, Behrns et al 2009, Mortley et al 2001, Murray and Karcher 2000. Thiel et al (2017) delivered a writing therapy programme to eight individuals with dysgraphia using Co:Writer R . This assistive technology incorporates word and grammar prediction, word banks, spell checking and a text-to-speech facility.…”

Language-Specific Dysgraphia in Persian Patients with Right Brain Stroke: Influence of Visuospatial Neglect and Rehabilitation

“…Non-pharmacological approaches have been shown to aid rehabilitation in dysgraphia. Non-pharmacological treatments used include spelling therapy, PA, RTMS, relearning in based spelling therapies on functional writing with unity-modal and multi-modal therapies, technology-enhanced writing therapy using assistive writing software to improve email writing, and rereading treatment with slow reading coupled interactive spelling treatment with errorful spelling (8,12,13,15,(24)(25)(26)(27). The novelty of the present study was without writing practice, a new suggestion was provided for dysgraphia pattern and rehabilitation of dysgraphia, neglect and disability function.…”