Overview of the Problem Space

Introduction

Conversation is the most important and recurrent social activity of human beings. It has been described as cultural building blocks and the primary means by which we learn and share our culture. One’s ability to converse effectively, especially within social contexts, greatly impacts thier quality of life, interpersonal relationships, and participation in society.

Dysarthria is the most common acquired motor speech disorder affecting speech production. Individuals who have dysarthria experience conversational barriers due to the full or partial loss of their speech. Dysarthric speakers often rely on communication aids and embodied modes of communication—collectively referred to as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)—to either augment or replace their speech.

Interpersonal interaction is difficult for dysarthric speakers who use AAC devices

There are two main forms of conversation: transactional conversation and interactional conversation (Brown & Yule 1983; Waller 2019). In addition to very low rates of communication when using these devices, AAC traditionally has focused on providing access to transactional conversation, such as expressing concrete needs and wants, and transferring information (e.g., messages) (Hawley et al. 2005). Conversely, interactional forms of conversation, which focus on the establishment and maintenance of social relationships, are not well-supported in AAC systems. From a social inclusion perspective, interactional forms of conversation, such as telling stories, jokes, and sharing personal experiences, are important to forming interpersonal relationships.

Previous conversation models have been used to inform the design of AAC devices for the purpose of improving conversations for users. However, the one-model-fits-all approach for modelling pragmatic features of conversation to improve conversational interaction in AAC devices, is ineffective for supporting interactional conversation for individuals who have dysarthria.

What my research is trying to do

The goal of research is to co-create a model of dysarthric conversation in order to enable AAC systems to support interactional forms of conversation that enhance interpersonal interactions for individuals who have dysarthria.

The objectives of my research are threefold: (1) to co-design a model of dysarthric conversation; (2) to integrate the model into an AAC system to address specific interactional conversation barriers faced by individuals who have dysarthria; and (3) test that model-enabled AAC system provides access to better interactional conversation.

How my research will benefit others

An empirically-based model of dysarthric conversation will help ensure that AAC devices are designed using accurate models that are reflective of the lived, conversational experiences of people who have dysarthria. Such a model also has important implications for AAC research, clinical assessment and intervention, and technology design as it could help people in the AAC field to envision and analyze the process that an AAC system must go through as dysarthric conversation unfolds.

Ultimately, providing access to interactional conversation within AAC devices would help alleviate the interpersonal problems that emerge for dysarthric speakers as they can better engage in interactional forms of conversation like telling stories, jokes, and sharing personal experiences with conversational partners. This in turn will help them maintain social relationships, enable them to more fully participate in society, and, by extension, enhance their quality of life.

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