Rate and quality of conversations using a text-storage AAC system: Single-case training study

“TALK”is a text-storage and retrieval AAC system designed for literate people who are unable to speak. It aims to support free-flowing social conversation by means of features that model pragmatic aspects of unaided conversation. A single-case, six-phase training study was carried out to help a user to take advantage of the pragmatic potential of the system. She had 10 conversations in a baseline phase, 4 following each of 4 training interventions (about 6 hours in total), and 4 in a maintenance phase. Over phases, her average prespeech pause times decreased (from 9 to 5 seconds) and her conversational rate increased (from 36 to 64 words per minute). Participant and observer ratings indicated that the quality of the conversations increased and perceptions of the user's competence and personal qualities became more positive as her conversational rate increased. Speed and rating gains were sustained in the maintenance phase.