Handwritten and Typed Discourse in People With Aphasia: Reference Data for Sequential Picture Description and Comparison of Performance Across Modality

Abstract

Purpose: Writing can be completed by hand or by typing. Increasingly, functional and social activities are completed in the virtual domain, which often requires discourse level writing. Yet, there is a shortage of research on discourse writing in aphasia. The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary reference data for a sequential picture description task in writing by hand and typing for people with aphasia. Additionally, we examined individual modality differences when comparing handwritten and typed discourse. Method: Fifteen people with mild–moderate aphasia participated in this study. They completed a sequential picture description task in handwriting and in typing. Discourse samples were coded for Correct Information Units (CIUs) and Complete Utterances. Measures of productivity were also evaluated (e.g., Total Words, Total Utterances). Participants completed a computer use questionnaire regarding their current and premorbid typing and computer use. Results: Preliminary reference data are reported. No significant differences were found at the group level for the measures evaluated. At the individual level, there was evidence of a modality effect for seven participants who demonstrated differences in the proportion of CIUs. Conclusions: Although preliminary, these findings suggest that, at the group level, the handwritten and typed discourse produced by people with mild–moderate aphasia is similar. However, at the individual level, there is potential for modality differences. Consistent patterns of premorbid computer use, difficulty ratings, and individual differences in writing modes were not identified for the participants who demonstrated a modality effect. However, there was preliminary evidence that poststroke handedness may contribute to modality differences exhibited by some participants, which should be explored in future research. Additionally, these reference data are preliminary and further research is required from a more heterogeneous group of people with aphasia and to better establish assessment practices for discourse writing.