Current projects
Aphasia Partnership Training (APT)
A programme of work to co-design and evaluate the effectiveness of training a person with aphasia and their communication partner to communicate better together. Aphasia affects the whole family, not just the person with aphasia. Communication partner training (CPT) is a type…
CHAT-AI: Conversational Help using AI for Therapy in Aphasia
CHAT-AI is an 8 week intervention exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a conversation partner for people with aphasia. Participants practise everyday conversations using either suggested topics from a supporting booklet or topics of their own choice. The…
Dara: Inclusive data visualisations for people with communication impairments
The aim of this project is to investigate and create inclusive data visualisations to support personal decision-making for people with communication impairments. The project will address a significant gap in knowledge about how people with communication difficulties use data visualisation for decision-making….
Emotional and language recovery after aphasia (ELLA): A feasibility study developing a novel intervention for people living with post-stroke aphasia
People with post-stroke aphasia are at risk of becoming depressed, anxious and isolated. They want therapy to focus on communication, confidence, mood, and finding ways to live well. We co-designed a novel intervention, ELLA (EmotionaL and Language recovery after Aphasia)…
Improving access to healthcare: Face-to-face And Telehealth Equivalence of assessments in Aphasia (FATE-A)
Post-pandemic, there is high demand for aphasia therapy. Speech therapy services have adapted to use different models of delivery, to meet the high demand. One way to do this is to offer online therapy, as well as usual therapy. Online…
Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programmes (ICAPs)
Katie Monnelly, a speech and language therapist and PhD student at City is researching ICAPs. Katie has published her PhD findings as she answers her PhD questions. 1. What happens on an ICAP?Full article: Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programmes: a systematic…
Machine Analysis and Reporting of Spoken personal stories with aphasia (MARS)
We know from our previous research on the LUNA study that both people with aphasia and speech and language therapists (SLTs) want to work on the kind of everyday narrative language that storytelling requires. However, we also know that often this type…
MAIA: Museums, Art Galleries and Aphasia
The potential for museums and galleries to contribute positively to the lives of people with aphasia is underexplored. Research with other visitor groups points to benefits including enhanced well-being and social interaction; for people with aphasia, benefits could also encompass…
OptimA
People with aphasia often receive less speech and language therapy than they need after leaving hospital. In line with UK and European clinical guidelines, technology-based rehabilitation is increasingly recommended to improve access to personalised therapy. However, speech and language therapists…
Song Surgery for people with Aphasia: Music for wellbeing (SAM)
This project explores the therapeutic potential of classical songs for people living with stroke and aphasia. Music has the power to lift and shape mood and identity: this project takes a collaborative stance, engaging with people living with aphasia, musicians…
Completed projects
CommuniCATE
Enhancing Communication in Aphasia through Technology and Education The CommuniCATE Aphasia Clinic at City, University of London is exploring the use of computer technologies in therapy for people with aphasia. The clinic is headed up by the Director, Dr Celia…
EVA
Evaluating the Effects of a Virtual Communication Environment for People with Aphasia EVA EVA Park is a multi-user online virtual world that gives people with aphasia unique opportunities to practise their speech and establish social connections. It was created at…
INCA
Inclusive digital Content for people with Aphasia The INCA project is investigating how to empower people with aphasia to create, curate and access digital content through innovative technologies. This multi-disciplinary project at City, University of London sees human-computer interaction researchers,…
LUNA
Language Underpins Narrative in Aphasia Language Underpins Narrative in Aphasia (LUNA) was a research project funded by the Stroke Association that explored a novel discourse treatment in five phases from 2018-2021: (1) synthesising existing work on discourse; (2) surveying Speech…
READ IT
Language Underpins Narrative in Aphasia The READ-IT research project explored the use of assistive technology for reading in both individual and group therapy. The three-month intervention aimed to compensate for the reading impairments of participants with aphasia and enable them…
SOFIA
Living well with aphasia The SOFIA study explored Solution Focused Brief Therapy for people living with aphasia following a stroke. It was funded by the Stroke Association. Therapy targeted emotional well-being. Visit SOFIA blog
Speech and Language Therapist and Nurse Information Sharing
This doctoral study explored how speech and language therapists (SLTs) and nurses shared information about communication and swallowing on stroke units. Data for this ethnographic study included observations of SLTs and nurses at work, interviews, and patient records. The project…
SUPERB
Adjustment with aphasia after stroke The SUPERB study aimed to find out what helps people adjust and get on with life after stroke and aphasia. It was funded by the Stroke Association. Visit SUPERB blog
Virtual Elaborated Semantic Feature Analysis (VESFA)
This study developed and tested a novel intervention for word retrieval and word use in the virtual world, EVA Park. The intervention used the virtual island of EVA Park as a space to practice words in situated conversations. The 8-week…
Wellbeing In Stroke and Aphasia (WISA)
Wellbeing In Stroke and Aphasia (WISA): developing an innovative, accessible service to support the psychological wellbeing of people living with aphasia This project is setting up an innovative service offering psychological therapy for people living with post-stroke aphasia. Aphasia can…