Conversation Strategies
According to ASHA, direct speech intervention is not recommended for individuals with in the late stages of ALS for a number of reasons. First, exercise to fatigue may hasten neurological deterioration. Second, speech drills may be so tiring that speech adequacy for functional use in other settings would be compromised. Finally, speech exercises emphasizing optimum performance can only prove to be a discouraging reminder of increasing loss of ability (Mathy, n.d.). Therefore, it is common practice to use effective strategies to improve communication in individuals with ALS rather than speech therapy training exercises (Tomik & Guiloff, 2010). Although speech may deteriorate, using communication strategies allows individuals with ALS to communicate closely and in a way that is more focused on topics that are particularly important to them (Murphy, 2004).
The table below, based on Yorkston et al. (2010), provides a general guideline to creating a treatment plan for managing the communicative effectiveness of individuals with ALS.
The table below, based on Yorkston et al. (2010), provides a general guideline to creating a treatment plan for managing the communicative effectiveness of individuals with ALS.
References:
Hanson, E.K., Yorkston, K.M., & Beukelman, D.R. (2004). Speech supplementation techniques for dysarthria: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, 12(2), ix-xxix.
Keintz, C.K., Bunton, K., Hoit, J.D. (2007). Influence of visual information on the intelligibility of dysarthric speech. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 16(3), 222-234.
Mathy, P. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A challenge for speech-language pathology. Asha.org. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/ALSChallenge/.
Murphy, J. (2004). Communication strategies of people with ALS and their partners. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, 5(2), 121-126.
Tomik, B. & Guiloff, R.J. (2010). Dysarthria in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 11(1-2), 4-15.
Yorkston, K. M., Beukelman, D. R., Strand, E. A., & Hakel, S. (2010). Management of motor speech disorders in children and adults. Austin: Pro-Ed.
Hanson, E.K., Yorkston, K.M., & Beukelman, D.R. (2004). Speech supplementation techniques for dysarthria: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, 12(2), ix-xxix.
Keintz, C.K., Bunton, K., Hoit, J.D. (2007). Influence of visual information on the intelligibility of dysarthric speech. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 16(3), 222-234.
Mathy, P. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A challenge for speech-language pathology. Asha.org. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/ALSChallenge/.
Murphy, J. (2004). Communication strategies of people with ALS and their partners. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, 5(2), 121-126.
Tomik, B. & Guiloff, R.J. (2010). Dysarthria in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 11(1-2), 4-15.
Yorkston, K. M., Beukelman, D. R., Strand, E. A., & Hakel, S. (2010). Management of motor speech disorders in children and adults. Austin: Pro-Ed.