Interaction-focused intervention

In recent years within the field of communication disorders there has been an increased focus on conversation as a site for assessment and intervention. In particular, much of this work has drawn on the socio-linguistic approach of Conversation Analysis (CA). In this paper the contribution of CA to aphasia, and in particular intervention for aphasia, is discussed. It is suggested that CA constitutes a distinctive, interaction-focused approach to intervention which differs from, but complements, impairment-focused, communication-focused and participation-focused approaches. Distinctive features of this approach in relation to planning, implementing and evaluating intervention are discussed, and some future directions are discussed.