Julie Scherz

Prevalence of Communication Disorders in HIV-Infected Adults

Few adult patients with HIV/AIDS are evaluated for communication disorders. A broad inventory of the communication disorders was obtained in a convenience sample of 82 adult HIV/AIDS patients who presented for medical appointments. Each participant underwent a head and neck exam and a communications skills evaluation. Speech, language, and cognition were assessed using a 10-item test battery. A 14-item hearing test battery was conducted in a separate session. The primary outcomes were the presence and degree of communication disorders. Head and neck exams revealed 40% with ear-related issues. Only 2 participants showed normal findings on all 24 communication skills assessments. Four demonstrated normal findings on all speech-language-cognitive assessments, whereas 8 had normal findings on the complete hearing test battery. A relatively high prevalence of cognitive and language deficits and central auditory disturbances were found. Clinicians must recognize the potential for communication deficits even in a relatively healthy patient with HIV.

Conversation of Augmented and Typical Speakers—Speaking Roles Versus Conversation Turns

Abstract This study investigated a difference in conversations between individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and typically speaking partners by using contrasting methods of counting conversation turns and counting attributed speaking roles (i.e., animator, author, and principal) (Goffman, 1981). Three individuals who use speech-generating AAC devices and 27 typically speaking conversation partners were recruited. Each AAC user had conversations with nine typically speaking partners. The findings showed that counting numbers of attributed speaking roles showed a significantly greater symmetry of conversations than counting numbers of conversation turns. The value of the measurement of speaking roles was highlighted and discussed.