App encourages stroke survivors to speak more frequently

Dr Caitlin Brandenburg's award-winning research is certainly something to get people talking.

The University of Queensland School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences pioneer will soon begin testing a second version of CommFit, an app-connected device that encourages stroke survivors to speak more frequently.

"By measuring vibration through the collarbone using an accelerometer, we can tell how much the wearer has talked throughout the day," Dr Brandenburg said.

"It's essentially a language pedometer that is paired with personalised tasks to assist people to get better at conversation, and also more involved and engaged with their community.

"The idea is based on principles of neuroplasticity, being that as the brain repairs after damage you want to repeatedly practise the skills you want to improve.

"A lot of current speech rehabilitation methods revolve around naming pictures or singular tasks, which isn't directly transferable to everyday conversation like CommFit is."

CommFit – short for Communicative Fitness – is primarily targeted at people living with aphasia, an impairment of language production and comprehension that affects 80,000 Australian stroke survivors.

Dr Brandenburg said the refined CommFit pedometer, based on an earlier trial version, was more accurate, easier to wear, had longer battery life, and was more reliable and affordable.

"Our aim is to continue to develop it so it is as small as possible, as simple as possible and as affordable as it can be made."