Psychological Well Being and Acquired Communication Impairment

Many speech and language therapists will not have an in depth understanding of mood and psychological well being and would benefit from more detailed accounts of methods of measurement, what behavioural features to look for and what sort of responses are useful. Similarly clinical psychologists would benefit from more detailed explanations of how aphasia and dysarthria can impact upon how an individual expresses feelings; as in many cases this may only be by non verbal behaviours rather than language. One confusing aspect is that the overall symptomology of the brain damage condition may also create uncertainties about well being. Facial expression for example, may be limited because of the brain damage rather than it representing an expression of feelings. So this book covers the subject from both points of view. Also, there remains a question about final outcome of good quality of life following rehabilitation, and how it is related to well being, and whether this is achieved through the rehabilitation process. Again this will be discussed in this book making it a comprehensive text.

Shelagh Brumfitt is Professor of Speech and Language Therapy Education and Senate Award Fellow for the Department of Human Communication Sciences at the University of Sheffield, UK.