Survey on Communication Needs and Functions of Adults Using Personal Assistance Services

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the communication needs and communication functions required by adults with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities in various activity support areas, with the goal of enhancing the effective operation of personal assistance services. Methods: A total of 30 personal assistants, who had experience assisting adults with communication difficulties due to cerebral palsy or developmental disabilities, were divided into two groups: 15 adults with cerebral palsy and 15 adults with developmental disabilities. They were assessed for communication needs using a 5-point Likert scale across nine areas of activity support (Personal hygiene, Body functions, Meal support, Moving indoors, Cleaning, Laundry, Cooking, Commuting, and Going out) and six communication functions (Requests, Responds, Objective comments, Statements, Acknowledge, and Organization devices). Results: The communication needs of the cerebral palsy group were significantly higher than those of the developmental disability group, with a main effect of the activity support domain and a significant interaction effect between disability type and activity support domain. While the cerebral palsy group did not differ in communication needs across the activity support domains, the developmental disability group had higher communication needs in the going out domain than in the body functions and moving indoors domains. The cerebral palsy group had higher scores in the communication functions than the developmental disability group, but neither group showed significant differences in scores between types of communication functions. Conclusion: Communication needs and functions and the need for communication support were discussed according to disability type and activity support domain.