Characterisation of “Positive” Behaviours in Primary Progressive Aphasias

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Midorikawa ◽  
Fiona Kumfor ◽  
Cristian E. Leyton ◽  
David Foxe ◽  
Ramon Landin-Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
Semantic Variant ◽  
Behaviour Changes ◽  
Dementia Onset

Background/Aims: Although some patients with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) exhibit novel or improved skills after the onset of dementia, these changes have yet to be quantified. Therefore, this study systematically explored and identified the emergence of positive behaviours after dementia onset. Methods: This study included 48 carers of patients with PPA: 12 nonfluent/agrammatic PPA (nfvPPA), 22 semantic variant PPA (svPPA), and 14 logopenic variant PPA (lvPPA). The presence and frequency of positive behaviour changes after dementia onset were established using the Hypersensory and Social/Emotional Scale (HSS). Results: Scores on Sensitivity to Details, Visuospatial Activities, and Music Activities differed significantly among the groups. More specifically, svPPA was associated with increased visuospatial activity, but only in the mild stage of the disease; nfvPPA was associated with increased visuospatial activity and decreased music activity, while lvPPA exhibited the reverse profile. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that subsets of PPA patients show novel or increased positive behaviours following dementia onset, and differences among subtypes may be helpful for improving diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, harnessing these skills may improve the quality of life of both patients and carers.

The Impact of Aphasia Camp Participation on Quality of Life: A Primary Progressive Aphasia Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (03) ◽  
pp. 270-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Figeys ◽  
H. Hubbard ◽  
Carlee Wilson ◽  
Esther Kim
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Outcome Measurement ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIndividuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and their caregivers are at risk for decreased quality of life (QoL) due to their progressive condition. Aphasia camps are an intervention that can improve QoL, yet individuals with PPA are underrepresented at aphasia camps relative to those with poststroke aphasia. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to examine the effect of participation in aphasia camp on the QoL of a couple impacted by PPA. The Living with Aphasia: Framework for Outcome Measurement (A-FROM) was used to guide a semistructured interview with an individual with PPA and her spouse, both of whom had attended the Alberta Aphasia Camp for 4 years. Conventional content analysis with an inductive approach was used to analyze results. Concepts that emerged from the interview were organized into pre-camp, during, and post-camp categories. Aspects of camp that had an effect on post-camp QoL for this couple with PPA included expanding social connections and introduction to new activities. Personal characteristics exhibited by the couple had an impact on their experience of aphasia camp and how they incorporated their experiences into their everyday lives post-camp. Aphasia camps are a participation-based service approach that can benefit people with aphasia regardless of etiology. A consideration of personal factors of potential campers with PPA, and the provision of PPA-specific resources, is recommended for programs such as aphasia camps that incorporate participants with mixed etiologies.

scholarly journals Thinking Outside the Stroke: Treating Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becky Khayum ◽  
Christina Wieneke ◽  
Emily Rogalski ◽  
Jaimie Robinson ◽  
Mary O’Hara
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Supportive Services ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive

In this article, we explore the symptoms, cause, treatment potential, and supportive services for individuals diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). Although it is possible to regain certain cognitive abilities with stroke or brain injury, in PPA, language abilities worsen and other symptoms emerge with time, shortening the lifespan. The goal of speech therapy for PPA is not to regain lost language, but rather to maximize communication for as long as possible. In this article, we offer information and tools for speech-language pathologists to help people living with PPA achieve these goals and improve overall quality of life.

scholarly journals A Life Participation Approach to Primary Progressive Aphasia Intervention

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (03) ◽  
pp. 284-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becky Khayum ◽  
Emily Rogalski
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Care Model ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
Dementia Syndrome

AbstractPrimary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a clinical neurodegenerative dementia syndrome characterized by deficits in spoken and written word retrieval, word usage, and/or word comprehension. Currently, there are no effective treatments to reverse or halt the underlying disease process; however, speech–language therapy may be helpful. The Communication Bridge Care Model was developed to address the unique communication and quality of life needs of individuals living with PPA. The core elements include person-centered care with dyadic instruction for disease education, and counseling, along with tailored levels of impairment- and compensatory-based communication strategy training. Our multicomponent approach incorporates guidance from the Life Participation Approach for Aphasia, including client-directed assessment and interventions that aim to maximize functional communication and participation in desired life activities. The direct and indirect use of technology is integrated into our tailored model of care to facilitate achievement of the client's functional goals. Here, we describe how to practically apply the Communication Bridge Care Model across treatment settings, including case examples from the Communication Bridge research study. This approach to care provides an opportunity to maximize communication effectiveness and quality of life for individuals living with PPA throughout the course of disease.

scholarly journals Primary Progressive Aphasia: Toward a Pathophysiological Synthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justina Ruksenaite ◽  
Anna Volkmer ◽  
Jessica Jiang ◽  
Jeremy CS Johnson ◽  
Charles R Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Care Management ◽  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Major Step ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Semantic Variant ◽  
Auditory Impairments

Abstract Purpose of Review The term primary progressive aphasia (PPA) refers to a diverse group of dementias that present with prominent and early problems with speech and language. They present considerable challenges to clinicians and researchers. Recent Findings Here, we review critical issues around diagnosis of the three major PPA variants (semantic variant PPA, nonfluent/agrammatic variant PPA, logopenic variant PPA), as well as considering ‘fragmentary’ syndromes. We next consider issues around assessing disease stage, before discussing physiological phenotyping of proteinopathies across the PPA spectrum. We also review evidence for core central auditory impairments in PPA, outline critical challenges associated with treatment, discuss pathophysiological features of each major PPA variant, and conclude with thoughts on key challenges that remain to be addressed. Summary New findings elucidating the pathophysiology of PPA represent a major step forward in our understanding of these diseases, with implications for diagnosis, care, management, and therapies.

scholarly journals Breakdowns in Informativeness of Naturalistic Speech Production in Primary Progressive Aphasia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Jeanne Gallée ◽  
Claire Cordella ◽  
Evelina Fedorenko ◽  
Daisy Hochberg ◽  
Alexandra Touroutoglou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Speech Analysis ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Functional Communication ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Progressive Aphasia ◽  
Primary Progressive ◽  
Communication Impairment ◽  
Semantic Variant ◽  
Lower Production

“Functional communication” refers to an individual’s ability to communicate effectively in his or her everyday environment, and thus is a paramount skill to monitor and target therapeutically in people with aphasia. However, traditional controlled-paradigm assessments commonly used in both research and clinical settings often fail to adequately capture this ability. In the current study, facets of functional communication were measured from picture-elicited speech samples from 70 individuals with mild primary progressive aphasia (PPA), including the three variants, and 31 age-matched controls. Building upon methods recently used by Berube et al. (2019), we measured the informativeness of speech by quantifying the content of each patient’s description that was relevant to a picture relative to the total amount of speech they produced. Importantly, form-based errors, such as mispronunciations of words, unusual word choices, or grammatical mistakes are not penalized in this approach. We found that the relative informativeness, or efficiency, of speech was preserved in non-fluent variant PPA patients as compared with controls, whereas the logopenic and semantic variant PPA patients produced significantly less informative output. Furthermore, reduced informativeness in the semantic variant is attributable to a lower production of content units and a propensity for self-referential tangents, whereas for the logopenic variant, a lower production of content units and relatively ”empty” speech and false starts contribute to this reduction. These findings demonstrate that functional communication impairment does not uniformly affect all the PPA variants and highlight the utility of naturalistic speech analysis for measuring the breakdown of functional communication in PPA.

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