Intellectual Disability
Conditions
Keywords
AAC, support worker, direct care staff, intellectual disability, learning disability, communication, adults
Brief summary
This exploratory and observational study focuses on adults with an intellectual disability (ID) and their support workers. Two groups of clients are observed: clients using Key Word Signing, and clients using aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Approximately half of adults with ID is estimated to experience communication difficulties. AAC supports them in their daily communication aiming at optimal participation in society. Current communication models, such as Participation Model (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2005) and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO, 2001), regard both client-related and environmental factors as important elements of communication. A substantial part of the environmental factors is made up of the communication partners' characteristics. In daycare and residential services for adults with ID the support worker is an important communication partner .
Detailed description
This study aims to: 1. with regard to teaching Key Word Signing (KWS), a specific form of AAC, to support workers: Analyse the relation between training method, support workers' attitude, and short and long term sign knowledge. 2. with regard to the use of manual signs in everyday communication between support workers and adults with ID: * Identity the support workers' characteristics that may influence the quality/quantity of the communication between adults with ID who use manual signs and their support worker. * Analyse the nature of this influence as well as any possible interaction effects with the clients' characteristics. 3. Assess whether an existing instrument, designed for measuring interactions between parents and children with cerebral palsy using AAC, may be used with adults client and support workers.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* uses AAC with client * client has congenital intellectual disability * supports client for at least 6 months
Exclusion criteria
* client has dementia symptoms * client has severe, non-corrected visual impairment * client has diagnosed autism
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Signing rate of support workers and individuals with intellectual disabilities | Three observation sessions over period of 2 weeks per participant, 2 years for all participants | Proportion: number of signed utterances divided by total number (spoken + exclusively spoken) of utterances |
| Sign imitation rate support workers and individuals with intellectual disabilities | Three observation sessions over period of 2 weeks per participant, 2 years for all participants | Proportion: number of manual sign imitations divided by total number manual signs produced |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Explicit Attitude of direct care staff towards manual signs | One testing per participant, over period of 6 months for all participants | Self-developed survey with subscales (Likert response): scaled score |
| Implicit Attitude of direct care staff working in towards manual signs | One testing per participant, over period of 6 months for all participants | Single-Category Implicit Association Test scores |
| Communicative functions of individuals with intellectual disabilities | Three observation sessions over period of 2 weeks per participant, 2 years for all participants | Proportion of responses/acknowledgement versus all communicative functions (responses/acknowledgements as well as initiations) |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed