ABSTRACT
Using the concepts and principles of conversation analysis (CA), this paper examines the everyday, unscripted, spontaneous conversations between 4 males who communicated with the aid of speech-output technologies and their mothers. The analyses focused on describing the conversationalists' various actions in aided turn-transition processes, resulting in a 3-part turn-transition structure used to accomplish aided turn initiation. Despite the challenges to conversational progress, the participants did not consider the conversational speed a challenge. The participants and their mothers were oriented to the progression of the aided conversation by creating interaction practices to achieve successful turn-transitions. By understanding the structural characteristics of fluent aided conversations, it may be possible to develop effective interaction strategies for communication partners and for augmentative and alternative communication technologies that are intentionally designed to facilitate interactive communication.
Subject(s)
Communication Aids for Disabled , Communication Disorders/rehabilitation , Mother-Child Relations , Adolescent , Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System/rehabilitation , Brain Stem Infarctions/rehabilitation , Cerebral Palsy/rehabilitation , Child , Humans , Male , Nervous System Malformations/rehabilitation , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are often unable to decide for themselves regarding complex medical decisions, and need assistance from representatives, often next-of-kin. People with IDs are often frail. This frailty is characterized on the one hand by health problems, on the other hand by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviour. In this group of people, when compared to the general population, the principles of palliative care are applicable more often and over a longer period. Advance care planning should be considered not only at the end of life, but at each stage where decisions have to be made that may affect quality of life. In this article, we present three patient cases to illustrate the complexity of the process and the commitment of representatives and other key stakeholders.
