Message banking : comparing perceptions of persons with motor neuron disease significant others and speech language pathologists

Abstract

Facing the reality of a diagnosis of Motor Neuron Disease (MND) and preparing for the possibility of losing one s ability to speak is extremely challenging. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the perceptions of ten persons with MND (PMNDs), 11 significant others (SOs) and 17 speech-language pathologists (SLPs) about message banking, a process where messages are pre-recorded so as to use them in a speechgenerating device. A quantitative, non-experimental, multi-group, posttest-only survey design was used. The 38 participants listened to a short presentation of what message banking entails and how it is done and then individually completed a questionnaire about their perceptions. Data was compared between the three participant groups to investigate the similarities and differences between them. Results indicated that most PMNDs and SOs reported they had never heard of AAC or message banking. SLPs knew only a little about AAC. Only 43% of SLPs were currently using AAC strategies for PMNDs. AAC methods that were most recommended for PMNDs were gestures, letter boards or communication boards. Participants agreed most with the statement that message banking was a good idea for PMNDs in general, although only 80% of PMNDs and 36% of SOs showed an interest in doing message banking for themselves or their loved one with MND. SLPs showed 100% interest in doing message banking with their patients with MND. PMNDs ranked messages important for message banking in descending order namely: social closeness, needs and wants, social etiquette and sharing information. SOs mostly agreed but thought that messages about needs and wants were more important to bank than were messages about social closeness. The SOs also thought that sharing information was more important than social etiquette, which was different to what PMNDs thought. In conclusion, all participants confirmed an awareness of AAC and message banking, although participants perception about AAC and message banking differed somewhat. They also had slightly differing views about the categories of messages that were important to bank during message banking.