Researchers: the Method is difficult to evaluate scientifically

Who can interpret, understand and put into words Åsa Pettersson's thoughts? DN asked the question in an article that described how the Åsa – difficult disabled because of cerebral palsy, and a diagnosis, but nonspecific, intellectual disabilities, – according to her personal assistants would have expressed that she no longer needed a good man and that she wanted to have his part of the inheritance after his mother paid in the money.

According to the Assistance in the balance, the company then organized the personal assistance to Åsa, was it possible for her to express this through a communication method called auditory scanning. The method included in something that kalas AAC, alternative and augmentative communication. It is utprövad for people who have disabilities of any kind.

" Even if a person has no speech and the ability to touch so it may be that the person can express more than what we know today. It is extremely important that anyone who meets such a person as a patient, a thorough assessment of whether that particular method is the right one for the individual, " says Anna Nyman, a speech therapist and doctoral student at the Department of clinical science, intervention and technology at Karolinska institutet.

– both to find the right method and to evaluate it scientifically. Especially difficult it becomes if the person has a diagnosis of intellectual disabilities, as in, for example, Of the cases where it is not possible to identify whether it is mild or severe.

– There is research that shows that the different methods that fit within the AAC in general help and strengthen individuals so that they can communicate better. However, there are no research studies that compare auditory scanning with other AAC methods, " continues Anna Nyman.

It depends on that method contains many different parts and used different for each individual. Auditory scanning, enter only really to the user to choose between different options that is read aloud by another person or an aid. There can be a large variation in how many options the user is given, how the options are organized and how the alternatives are read.

the Answers must almost exclusively be interpreted by the recipient. Sometimes it is clear, sometimes less clear what the person mean. Differences in the degree of disability also plays into, they are often large.

– It is also very difficult. There are tests you can do to examine a person's language comprehension, but they are difficult to implement for people with major disabilities who lack speech. Also you are dependent on someone to interpret what the person answering the questions included in the test.

Anna Nyman mean, however, that in the patientmötet, it is important that health care has a vision that the patient can and want to express themselves:

20 years ago, emanated more frequently from the patents-in-suit must prove their ability to communicate. We have abandoned today – now, we work on the basis of the premise that everyone must get the chance to show how they can communicate. But all the methods need to be used critically and with a questioning mind.

now a trustee, appointed by the district court to proceed. The trustee, Torbjorn Lundberg, believe that Åsa lack the ability to take a position, she needs a good man or not.

In 2018, attempts were made to improve Of the ability to communicate with the eye tracking, but it did not work, according to a senior consultant at Danderyd hospital. Åsa Pettersson has now received a referral to StoCKK Stockholm center for communication and cognitive support, in order to investigate the method in the AAC that provides Åsa best opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings.

Read more: ”We have always listened to Åsa”

Read more: the Assistants took over the Of life