Using Discourse Structure Analysis to Understand Communication Profiles of Members With Severe and Mild Aphasia in Facilitated Conversation Groups

To support improved understanding of interaction among the heterogeneous people with aphasia who attend facilitated conversation groups we applied discourse structure analysis (DSA). We focused on group members with mild and severe aphasia. We identified the function of each communicative move, an utterance unit core to DSA, individuals made in conversation. We described the communication profiles of group members with mild and severe aphasia and analyzed the interactive patterns surrounding their contributions. The mild group demonstrated higher average percentages across each speech function and greater variability in their communication profiles. While they enacted communicative autonomy, the severe group used direct and indirect communication supports in the majority of their communication. Given these findings and prior research, we suggest a few ways that facilitators can interact to supporting members with severe aphasia. We also suggest continued work focused on support members with mild aphasia.