Introduction
Functional communication assessments are vital in evaluating the ability of
individuals to engage in meaningful daily interactions. This assignment focuses on
designing a Bangla-specific assessment tool tailored for adults recovering from
cerebrovascular accidents (CVA). The tool assesses expressive language skills
crucial for everyday life
Purpose of the Assessment Tool:
To evaluate functional expressive language in Bangla-speaking adults post-CVA.
To identify specific impairments and provide insights for therapy planning.
To incorporate culturally and contextually relevant materials for maximum
efficacy.
Overview of the Assessment:
Type: Functional expressive language assessment.
Components:
Interactional tasks, picture description, situational role-plays, and self-rating
scales.
Target Population: Adults with mild to moderate expressive impairments due to
CVA.
Materials: Bangladeshi-context picture cards, role-play scenarios, and scoring
forms.
Tasmia Islam
Tasmia Islam Dola
Design and Development of the Tool
1. Planning
Target Clients:
The tool is designed for adults recovering from CVA, specifically those who:
Experience difficulties in producing coherent sentences.
Face challenges in expressing thoughts in familiar contexts.
Functional Communication Area:
Focus on expressive language, which includes:
Initiating and sustaining conversations.
Naming and describing objects or scenarios.
Expressing needs or emotions in real-life situations.
Information Needed for a Holistic Assessment:
The client’s ability to engage in structured and unstructured conversations.
Context-specific expressive abilities, such as describing scenes or participating in
role-plays.
Self-perception of communication abilities to gauge confidence levels.
2. Materials
1. Picture Cards:
Depict common Bangladeshi contexts such as markets, streets, homes, and
restaurants.
Examples: A bustling market, a family dinner table, or a crowded Dhaka street.
2. Role-Play Prompts:
Context-based scenarios like ordering food, asking for directions, or explaining
health issues.
Examples: "Order your favorite meal at a restaurant" or "Ask a shopkeeper for a
product."
3. Self-Rating Scales:
Visual aids like smiley-to-sad faces to rate confidence levels in communication.
3. Design Choices and Procedures
Step 1: Greeting and Interaction Tasks
Objective: Assess initiation and conversational turn-taking.
Procedure:
Client greets the interviewer and introduces themselves.
Example: "Assalamu Alaikum, ami [name] bolechi."
Step 2: Picture Description
Objective: Evaluate vocabulary, fluency, and sentence structure.
Procedure:
Show a picture (e.g., a street with rickshaws and shops) and ask the client to
describe it.
Example Response: "Ekhane ekta rickshaw ar ekta dokan ache."
Step 3: Role-Play Scenarios
Objective: Assess functional communication in real-life contexts.
Procedure:
Provide prompts like, "Pretend you’re asking for directions to the hospital."
Example Response: "Hospital kothay ache? Ami ekta rickshaw nebo."
Step 4: Self-Rating Scale
Objective: Understand the client’s perception of their communication ability.
Procedure:
Ask the client to rate their confidence on a 1-5 scale, using visual aids if necessary.
Presentation of the Assessment Form
Explanation of the Process
1. Theoretical Basis:
The tool aligns with the World Health Organization’s ICF framework, which
emphasizes activity and participation in real-life contexts.
Principles of functional communication therapy and pragmatics were integrated
to design tasks relevant to everyday situations.
2. Cultural and Contextual Relevance:
Images and scenarios reflect Bangladeshi culture to make the assessment
relatable and engaging.
Language materials are tailored to the nuances of Bangla, ensuring accuracy in
evaluation.
3. Pilot Testing and Adaptations:
A small group of post-CVA clients was used to test the tool.
Adjustments were made based on feedback, such as simplifying prompts or
refining scoring criteria.
4. Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths:
Culturally tailored, making it more relevant for Bangladeshi clients.
Practical and easy to administer.
Weaknesses:
Limited applicability for clients with severe impairments.
Scoring variability depending on the examiner’s experience.
Tasmia Islam
Tasmia Islam Dola
Discussion
This tool bridges the gap between standardized assessments and the need for
culturally specific evaluations in Bangladesh.
It incorporates theories of language recovery post-CVA and functional
communication, ensuring it aligns with best practices.
While the tool is robust for mild to moderate impairments, future adaptations
could include visual aids or caregiver inputs for severe cases.
The importance of pilot testing is highlighted, as it ensures validity and reliability.
Conclusion
This Bangla assessment tool provides a practical, culturally relevant method for
evaluating expressive language in post-CVA adults. It combines theory and
practice, ensuring an effective evaluation of functional communication. Future
refinements will focus on expanding its usability across diverse client groups.
References
1. World Health Organization. (2001). International Classification of Functioning,
Disability and Health (ICF).
2. Khan, M. R. (2018). Speech and Language Therapy in Bangladesh: Cultural
Considerations. Bangladesh Medical Journal.
3. Smith, J. A., & Doe, R. (2019). Functional Communication in Post-Stroke
Rehabilitation. Journal of Speech Therapy, 45(2), 123-135.