Speech and Language Relearning for Stroke Patients- Understanding  User  Needs for Technology Enhancement

• Speech and language relearning are challenging for stroke survivors, as well as medical caregivers. After a stroke, patient’s ability to read, write, speak, and listen is decreased to different degrees, which results in a compromised independent life and a decreased quality of life for the patients. Technology-Enhanced Systems (TES) can play a vital role in this context. However, the available software are not explicitly built for recovering stroke patients’ needs but often for children’s learning needs. This paper is, therefore, aimed at gathering requirements to support the design of speech and language relearning software applications for stroke survivors. A design science approach was adopted, where different stakeholders such as medical caregivers and information technology consultants were involved in the process. Deductive thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the main findings according to adult learning theory. The software requirements vary from patient to patient where the intensity of speech and language impairments, general medical condition, age, prior experience, and knowledge about the previous health record, and social setup of the patient are playing an important role. The speech therapists should have management functionality in the software to adjust the relearning exercises according to the patient’s needs.  Since, stroke is most common in adults who learn differently than children, andragogy principles were useful in recognizing patients’ health conditions. Adults are interested to be involved in the development of their relearning process. Software for speech and language assessment will be helpful to establish relearning objectives for patients.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Requirements specification

E-Health

Stroke rehabilitation

Speech and language relearning

Adult learning theory

Independent living

Information Systems

Informatik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)