@article{CuperusdeKokdeAguiaretal.2022, author = {Cuperus, Pauline and de Kok, D{\"o}rte and de Aguiar, Vania and Nickels, Lyndsey}, title = {Understanding user needs for digital aphasia therapy}, series = {Aphasiology : an international, interdisciplinary journal}, volume = {37}, journal = {Aphasiology : an international, interdisciplinary journal}, number = {7}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {London}, issn = {0268-7038}, doi = {10.1080/02687038.2022.2066622}, pages = {1016 -- 1038}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Background: Aphasia therapy software applications (apps) can help achieve recommendations regarding aphasia treatment intensity and duration. However, we currently know very little about speech and language therapists' (SLTs) preferences with regards to these apps. This may be problematic, as clinician acceptance of novel treatments and technology are a key factor for successful translation from research evidence to practice. Aim: This research aimed to increase our understanding of clinicians' experiences with aphasia therapy apps and their perceived barriers and facilitators to the use of aphasia apps. Furthermore, we wanted to explore the influence of some demographic factors (age, country, and SLT availability in the client's hometown) on SLTs' attitudes towards these apps. Method \& Procedures: 35 Dutch and 29 Australian SLTs completed an online survey. The survey contained 9 closed-ended questions and 3 open-ended questions. Responses to the closed-ended questions were summarised through the use of descriptive statistics. The responses to the open questions were analysed and coded into recurring themes that were derived from the data. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between the demographic variables and the responses to the closed-ended questions. Outcomes \& results: Participants were overwhelmingly positive about aphasia therapy apps and saw the potential for their clients to use apps independently. As facilitators of app use, participants reported accessibility and inclusion of different language modalities, while high costs, absence of a compatible device, and clients' potential computer illiteracy were listed as barriers. None of the analysed demographic factors consistently influenced differences in participants' attitudes towards aphasia therapy apps. Conclusions: The positive, extensive and insightful feedback from speech and language therapists is both useful and encouraging for app developers and aphasia researchers, and should facilitate the development of appropriate, high-quality therapy apps.}, language = {en} } @article{RofesZakariasCederetal.2018, author = {Rofes, Adria and Zakarias, Lilla and Ceder, Klaudia and Lind, Marianne and Johansson, Monica Blom and de Aguiar, Vania and Bjekic, Jovana and Fyndanis, Valantis and Gavarro, Anna and Simonsen, Hanne Gram and Hernandez Sacristan, Carlos and Kambanaros, Maria and Kraljevic, Jelena Kuva and Martinez-Ferreiro, Silvia and Mavis, Ilknur and Mendez Orellana, Carolina and Sor, Ingrid and Lukacs, Agnes and Tuncer, Muge and Vuksanovic, Jasmina and Munarriz Ibarrola, Amaia and Pourquie, Marie and Varlokosta, Spyridoula and Howard, David}, title = {Imageability ratings across languages}, series = {Behavior research methods : a journal of the Psychonomic Society}, volume = {50}, journal = {Behavior research methods : a journal of the Psychonomic Society}, number = {3}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1554-351X}, doi = {10.3758/s13428-017-0936-0}, pages = {1187 -- 1197}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Imageability is a psycholinguistic variable that indicates how well a word gives rise to a mental image or sensory experience. Imageability ratings are used extensively in psycholinguistic, neuropsychological, and aphasiological studies. However, little formal knowledge exists about whether and how these ratings are associated between and within languages. Fifteen imageability databases were cross-correlated using nonparametric statistics. Some of these corresponded to unpublished data collected within a European research network-the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (COST IS1208). All but four of the correlations were significant. The average strength of the correlations (rho = .68) and the variance explained (R (2) = 46\%) were moderate. This implies that factors other than imageability may explain 54\% of the results. Imageability ratings often correlate across languages. Different possibly interacting factors may explain the moderate strength and variance explained in the correlations: (1) linguistic and cultural factors; (2) intrinsic differences between the databases; (3) range effects; (4) small numbers of words in each database, equivalent words, and participants; and (5) mean age of the participants. The results suggest that imageability ratings may be used cross-linguistically. However, further understanding of the factors explaining the variance in the correlations will be needed before research and practical recommendations can be made.}, language = {en} } @misc{MartinezFerreirodeAguiarRofes2015, author = {Martinez-Ferreiro, Silvia and de Aguiar, Vania and Rofes, Adria}, title = {Non-fluent aphasia in Ibero-Romance: a review of morphosyntactic deficits}, series = {Aphasiology : an international, interdisciplinary journal}, volume = {29}, journal = {Aphasiology : an international, interdisciplinary journal}, number = {1}, publisher = {Routledge, Taylor \& Francis Group}, address = {Abingdon}, issn = {0268-7038}, doi = {10.1080/02687038.2014.958915}, pages = {101 -- 126}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background: Castilian-Spanish, Catalan, Galician, and European Portuguese are the most widely spoken languages of the Ibero-Romance group. An increasing number of authors have addressed the impact of aphasia on the morphosyntax of these varieties. However, accurate linguistic characterisations are scarce and the different sources of data have not been yet compiled.Aims: To stimulate state-of-the-art research, we provided a comprehensive summary of morphosyntactic aspects of Ibero-Romance and a review of how these are affected in non-fluent aphasia. The topics we dealt with are the use of verb argument structure and morphology, sentential negation and word order, definite articles, personal and reflexive pronouns, passives, topicalised constructions, questions, and relative clauses.Methods \& Procedures: An exhaustive fieldwork and search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline records were performed to retrieve studies focused on morphosyntactic issues concerning the Ibero-Romance varieties. A total of 27 studies produced by 46 authors of varying background emerged. We did not review studies of category-specific deficits and aspects related to bilingual aphasia, although we assume that most speakers of Galician and Catalan are bilingual. Studies of spontaneous speech were included when no controlled experimental tasks were available.Outcomes \& Results: The morphosyntactic commonalities of Ibero-Romance have been tackled from different theoretical perspectives. There exist asymmetries in findings which we explain with the use of different tasks (and task complexity) and individual differences between participants.Conclusions: Discourse-linking factors as well as deviations from the canonical pattern are recurrent answers to these asymmetries. A comprehensive theory of impairments in non-fluent aphasia integrating relevant aspects of both structural and processing accounts seems necessary.}, language = {en} }