Assisting communication in the dental setting: a student team working initiative with stroke patients

Aims and objectives: Development of a unique communication-aid for stroke survivors with aphasia, for use in dental settings. Methodology: Working with stroke survivors with aphasia a group of staff and students have developed a communication-aid to use in a dental setting. It supports and simplifies communication for people who find communication problematic. A folder approach was used with pictures and words to depict answers when gathering a dental history, information to identify dental problems and give oral health and dietary advice. There is a wipe-able space for patients to write things down and a keyboard to spell out problematic words. Results: The communication-aid had a powerful impact in breaking down barriers and aiding communication for this group of stroke survivors with aphasia. The students experienced a transformative learning opportunity by working outside the confines of university learning sessions. Conclusions: The communication-aid has exciting future possibilities nationally and internationally within healthcare, people with learning disabilities or head injuries, non-English speakers, BSL users and children. Further testing of the communication aid is planned