How we do it

Finding software

  • We use British, American, Australian and New Zealand search engines
  • We use search words likely to be used by people with aphasia, their carers and therapists
  • We include all programs identified using this method and which could be analysed in depth using our analysis tool
  • We also include software which people recommended - we welcome this feedback
  • We do not include ‘home-made’ software 

Objectivity

  • The investigations are carried out objectively.
  • No incentives are provided by any of the suppliers and no qualitative judgements are made.
  • We hope that users of the Finder will be able to take the information provided, in conjunction with a free software trial, to determine exactly which software will suit them best.

Software criteria

We look at every module of every piece of software and used the same criteria for each software package.

  • number of exercises within each module
  • how the software responded to correct answers and incorrect answers (level of cues/prompts)
  • the support provided by suppliers
  • how the software was developed (for example, the theory models which the programmers based it on)
  • the area of language targeted
  • access methods required
  • recording of results
  • ease of independent use

How each software package filled the above criteria is recorded in a database which is what the software finder uses to locate appropriate programs in the ‘What do you want to work on?’ section.

 

Software summaries

Aphasia therapy software and apps

  • All summaries open on to a page which is designed to be more aphasia friendly
  • There is an option to click on to a second page which is designed for therapists and others who wish for more detail
  • These pages use more complex language
  • From the database, we extract information which we feel will be most useful for people with aphasia when making their purchase decision (aphasia friendly program summaries)
  • We then extract the information which we feel will be most useful to SLTs when making their purchase decisions (full program summaries)

General software and apps

We include many apps and software which may help people with aphasia even though they are not therapy. This is not comprehensive list but hopefully will be useful.

Updates

  • We will regularly check for upgrades of all the software investigated and update our database accordingly. In addition, we will regularly search for new software which becomes available and add these to the database if they fulfill our criteria.
  • We welcome feedback and information about software we have not yet included