05.06.2014 Views

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

noted that there were three areas that affected the person with aphasia’s quality<br />

<strong>of</strong> life. Firstly a person’s level <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>dependence and their ability to carry out their<br />

daily activities, to be mobile and to return to employment were priorities for these<br />

participants. Secondly, social relationships were impacted upon where<br />

participants prioritised hav<strong>in</strong>g satisfaction with support from their friends and<br />

also <strong>in</strong> their <strong>in</strong>timate relationships. F<strong>in</strong>ally, <strong>in</strong> the environmental doma<strong>in</strong> the<br />

importance <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>formation accessibility, health services, and transportation were<br />

a priority for those participants with aphasia. These results concur with previous<br />

reports <strong>of</strong> loss <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>dependence (Herrmann and Wallesch, 1990) and the <strong>in</strong>ability<br />

to work be<strong>in</strong>g priorities for people with aphasia, other than their communication<br />

disability (Herrmann and Wallesch, 1990; K<strong>in</strong>sella and Duffy, 1979; Sarno,<br />

1993). However, the follow<strong>in</strong>g discussions will reveal that many <strong>of</strong> the priorities<br />

mentioned above are impacted upon as a direct result <strong>of</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g impaired<br />

communication abilities, where aphasic <strong>in</strong>dividuals may even settle for a more<br />

limited quality <strong>of</strong> life because <strong>of</strong> their expectations <strong>of</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g with a disability (Ellis-<br />

Hill and Horn, 2000).<br />

It is not only the person with aphasia whose life experiences change follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

their stroke. Therefore, the review <strong>of</strong> the literature report<strong>in</strong>g the impact <strong>of</strong><br />

communication impairment on a person with aphasia will also encompass the<br />

negative impact on family and friends with<strong>in</strong> their <strong>in</strong>terpersonal relationships and<br />

communication with the person with aphasia, their <strong>in</strong>creased responsibilities (<strong>in</strong><br />

many cases) and adaptations to their work and leisure activities. Four areas <strong>of</strong><br />

quality <strong>of</strong> life will now be explored – the emotional impact <strong>of</strong> acquir<strong>in</strong>g and liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with aphasia, the adaptation <strong>of</strong> social function<strong>in</strong>g as a direct result <strong>of</strong> a<br />

communication impairment, the impact <strong>of</strong> aphasia on the family unit, and its<br />

affect on their ability to actively engage <strong>in</strong> pleasurable activities.<br />

10

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!