Idealização e desenvolvimento de um recurso para comunicação suplementar e alternativa no contexto domiciliar de usuários pós AVC.

Abstract

Aphasia manifests itself in the loss or deficiency of expressive and/or receptive language, caused by brain damage. Cerebrovascular Accidents (CVA) are among the most frequent causes of language disorders and consequently of communication, acquired in adulthood. These may have been caused by biological or mechanical trauma, temporary or permanent. Nowadays, there are already assistive technology instruments focused on helping people in communicative vulnerability at the bedside, but the demand is much greater than the supply. These products are intended to also serve the aphasic user. According to the opinions of professionals in the field of speech therapy, referenced in the bibliographic study developed, the simplest strategies are the most effective and efficient to establish communication in the use of the assistive technology product for aphasics. The object of study is the aphasic user and his tutors, so a vast bibliographic research was carried out with an emphasis on this user, on their interpersonal relationships, on the physical residential environment in which this individual is inserted and on their caregivers. The purpose of the work is to identify, from a design perspective, a way to improve the communication possibilities of the aphasic individual, helping the caregiver in the identification and duration of their tasks. The present work proposes to design an equipment/product aimed at attending the aphasic individual (with post-stroke language changes, bedside), as a facilitator in the communication process between patient-caregiver-family, taking into account the aspects of their basic needs (cold/heat/thirst/hunger/pain). The objective is to develop a user-friendly device, for residential use, at an affordable price, using design techniques and tools capable of identifying and proposing solutions to meet the user's needs. The device fulfills its purpose at each activation, vocalizing the selected basic need and alerting the caregiver to attend to it. By being on the scale of a hand, that is, being a small object, maintenance and cleaning also become effective. It was also possible to achieve a satisfactory appearance for the elderly population with comfortable grip and spelling for age restrictions and a friendly usability, which can be activated with a simple click on the option - basic need - desired. This product could be an extra resource for users, bedside or with speech restriction, in communicative interaction with their caregivers.