Group Treatment

Question 1

Historical Perspective- Group Tx

Began when?

Answer 1

Began after WWII
Large number of veterans
Not aphasic but TBI

Question 2

Historical perspective-Group Tx
Fell out of favor in…
Renewed interest in…

Answer 2

1960s

1990s

Question 3

Efficacy of Group Tx?

Answer 3

Wertz, Aten, Bollinger etc. strongly support the conclusion that group therapy is effective.

Question 4

Group Facilitation Techniques-Bertcher’s Group Techniques:

Answer 4

Starting
Attending
Seeking and giving information
Summarizing
Rewarding
Responding to feelings
Contract negotiation
Confrontation
Mediating
Modeling
Focusing
Gatekeeping

Question 5

Group Dynamics

Answer 5

The power of aphasia groups

Benefits of group dynamics

Question 6

Group Dynamics-

~Matching individuals:

~Structure:

Answer 6

~By severity most often
By age, interests if possible

~90 minutes long
5-10 members (6-8 optimal)

Question 7

Treatment Goals

Aphasia Center of California:

Answer 7

Member and Family Education
Personal Goals
Conversational practice
Communicative strategies
Conversational initiation
Conversational Cross-talk

Question 8

Examples of Conversational Initiation

Answer 8

~Facilitator Role to group 
  member
~“Passing the ball”
~Addressing directly
~Request generation of a topic
~Peer scaffolding or cueing
~Encouraging peer feedback
~Peer volunteers
~Personalizing the discussion

Question 9

Increasing Exchange of Information

Answer 9

~Graphic attempts or  
   communicative drawing
~Graphic choices
~Natural gestures
~Communicative resources
~Weekly activity highlights form

Question 10

Elman’s Best Betsfor Sparking Conversation with Aphasia Groups

Answer 10

~Capitalize on the group’s lead
~Beware of preset agendas or 
   themes
~Allow the group to inform you
~Follow the group’s interests
~Encourage peer feedback
~Increase member participation
~Allow group members to 
   facilitate
~Novelty promotes interests
~Resources assist participation
~Humor enriches and motivates

Question 11

Outcomes Measurement

Answer 11

~Aphasia Group Conversational ~Competence Rating Scale 
~Informal Discourse Rating 
   Scale  
~ASHA FACS behaviors f or 
   social communication 
~Develop an individual rubric

Question 12

Other Group Treatment

Answer 12

~Right Hemisphere CVA
~Traumatic Brain Injury
~Motor Speech Disorders: ~Dysarthria and Apraxia