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.
