Examining Interactions Between Persons with ALS and Caregivers
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effect of communicative interaction on verbal communication in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers. The question is, What are the effects of communicative interaction on verbal communication in people with ALS when they interact with their caregivers and does this change over time? Participants will read words and sentences while they are interacting with their caregivers.
⁃ Speakers with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (PALS-people with ALS)
• diagnosis of ALS following the revised EL Escorial criteria
• no history of other neurological conditions (e.g., stroke)
• no cognitive impairment assessed by Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (mini MoCA)
• detectable speech disturbance according to the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R)
• the ability to produce single words
• being a native speaker of American English (AE).
⁃ Caregivers
• being a caregiver of a participant with ALS
• being a native speaker of American English (AE).