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Using
AphasiaMate
AphasiaMate Menus
- The eight sections of AphasiaMate
cover the main areas of language use. This is the first menu you see at the start
of the program. From here, you may move into the Main Menu which allows access
to the 8 modules, or can set the sequence of presentation of tasks in the session,
view results, or enter the user's name in order to record results. You also exit
the program from this menu.
- The main menu lists the 8 sections of
AphasiaMate. Select a section by clicking on its circle, then you will move into
the sub-menu (where it exists).
- The tasks are organized into sub-menus
for 3 of the 8 main areas. Again, select the desired section, and you move into
the numbered list of tasks.
- The tasks in each section are listed
here. Often, the items are listed on more than one screen, and you can move forward
or backward within screens by clicking on the forward or backward arrows on the
bottom of the screen. To do one of the tasks, click on its numbered circle, and
you move to the instruction screen, then into the exercises.
From within these screens, an options item is available at the top of the screen.
Moving the mouse to the top of the screen causes a list of new items to appear;
use these to move up or down in the menus to the main menu or sub-menu, and also
provides access to the on-line help, control menu, and start item where applicable.
Recording User Results
AphasiaMate will automatically record the client's results on all exercises if
you tell it to in one of two ways. When you first enter the program, a screen
will ask whether you want to record user results, and you may select yes. Or,
once you are using AphasiaMate, you may select user from the Control menu. Either
of these actions will bring you to the screen where you can enter the client's
name, an ID number of up to 5 digits, and your name (as therapist). Following
this, the date of the session and results from all completed exercises will be
automatically saved to be viewed later.
Setting a Sequence
AphasiaMate allows you to set the sequence of exercises prior to a session, so
that once the client starts the exercises, the program will present the selected
tasks in the order you have chosen. This feature gives you control of the program,
and saves time during the session so the client moves quickly from one task to
the next. To use this function, click sequence in the Control menu, then click
on the desired items. When finished, select the start item from the options menu
at the top of the screen.
Instructions
Each task in AphasiaMate requires a specific type of response. Before an exercise
starts, you will see an instruction screen that simply states how to perform the
task: by clicking on a response alternative, clicking and dragging it to the correct
location, or clicking on a play button to hear an auditory stimulus before responding.
The instructions are presented in written form, but an audio button allows the
client to also hear the same instructions if this is more appropriate. This audio
option is also available while completing the exercise and this item is at the
top right of the screen.
Accuracy Feedback
After the client makes a response in any exercise, accuracy feedback is provided.
If the response was correct, a "ding" sound is played and a "thumbs up" image
is shown at the top of the screen. If the response was incorrect, a "boo" sound
is played and the image shown is a "thumbs down" one. Following an incorrect response,
the client has another chance to get the correct answer. After two incorrect responses,
the correct response is highlighted and displayed for a couple of seconds. More
feedback is available after the completion of all the exercises within a given
task. A screen asks whether to show the score on the completed exercises, and
the client or therapist can select yes or no. If you choose to show the score,
it is displayed as a percentage. This option is intended to provide the client
with accuracy feedback, rather than for record-keeping by the therapist which
is done as described above.
Recommendations for Using AphasiaMate
We suggest that the therapist set up the sequence of exercises prior to a session
that are appropriate for the client. There are two ways for the client to use
AphasiaMate: independently or with assistance. If the client is not capable of
controlling the mouse, AphasiaMate can be used as a therapy tool in a typical
one-on-one session, with the therapist or an assistant helping out. The client
may indicate his/her response verbally, or by pointing, and the assistant, caregiver,
or therapist can then use the mouse to select the indicated response on the computer
screen. As before, the therapist can review results following the session.
Viewing Results
Results are recorded for all tasks that are completed. After the session is completed,
you can view results by selecting results from the Control menu. You will enter
the results screen for the most recent client, but may view results of other clients
by scrolling up or down through the lists in the ID and Name fields. The information
that was recorded includes the name of the section and sub-section, the task number
and description, the number of exercises in that task, the time taken to complete
the task, and the percentage score for each task, and the average score for each
section and for the session as a whole. If a client has used AphasiaMate in different
sessions, you can access the results for earlier or later sessions using the backward
or forward arrows at the bottom left of the screen, or by scrolling up or down
in the Date field, or also by using the Sessions menu item at the top of the screen.
You can print the results for inclusion in the client's file, or continue to view
them within AphasiaMate.
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