FY 2008 Annual Report of Achievements - Gallaudet University

Overall, none of the participants identified all 25 sentences correctly. However, the
participants more easily identified those AAE forms that were documented in the literature as
occurring more frequently in AAE. A majority of participants failed to identify as AAE those
sentences that would be observed in both speakers of AAE and speakers of Southern American
English. Finally, a vast number of respondents misconstrued some sentences that were indicative of
a speech and/or language disorder as AAE dialectal features. A majority of participants have had
classes related to minority populations; however, few had classes specifically geared toward speakers
of AAE, and few were assessed on their ability to utilize the features of AAE. These results are an
important indicator for graduate programs to increase knowledge and awareness of not only AAE,
but also other dialectal forms used by their clients, especially for clinicians who expect to provide
services to a CLD population.
Funding source: GRI Small Grant
FY 2007-2008 product(s):
Wilson, S.M. (2008). Speech-language pathology graduate students’ knowledge and awareness of and experience with African-American
English (AAE). Unpublished master’s thesis, Department of Hearing, Language, and Speech Sciences, Gallaudet
University, Washington, DC.
Spouses and Caregivers: Communication Strategies Used With Individuals With
Aphasia and Their Perceived Effectiveness
Status: Completed Begin date: May 2007 End date: May 2008
Principal Investigator(s):
Gamon, Lynne (student) – Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences
Description:
The purpose of this project was to determine communication strategies spouses and
caregivers used most often and perceived as most effective in communicating with individuals with
aphasia. This project identified different communication impairments experienced by the individual
with aphasia along with various interventions and strategies commonly taught to the spouse or
caregiver. Data and anecdotal information were gathered from a survey designed to allow spouses
and caregivers of individuals with aphasia to report the specific strategies they utilized and state their
perception of the effectiveness of these strategies. The results of this project can be provided to
speech-language pathologists to enhance insight into the effectiveness of various communication
strategies as perceived by spouses and caregivers of individuals with aphasia and to support the
inclusion of these spouses and caregivers in setting goals to improve daily life skills and
communication from those for whom they act as caregivers.
Funding source: GRI Small Grant
A-61