Pittsburgh Translational Aphasia Research Initiative
The Pittsburgh Translational Aphasia Research Initiative (PTARI), is a multi-lab collaboration which aims to leverage existing Communication Science and Disorders (CSD) and Pittsburgh-area strengths in aphasia research and clinical translation to address these critical public-health problems.
About
Language and communication impairments following brain damage (aphasia) are a common and debilitating experience for survivors of stroke. Approximately 30% of stroke survivors experience lasting language impairments, with over 2 million people currently living with aphasia in the U.S. Impairments in the ability to produce and understand language can disrupt many activities of daily living, including vocational opportunities, fulfilling family roles and functional independence, which can have a devastating impact on overall quality of life. It is therefore crucially important to improve our understanding of aphasia in order to develop more effective interventions.
Our Mission
- Enhance and accelerate progress in translational aphasia research.
- Support the Pittsburgh aphasia community and engage them as collaborators in translational aphasia research.
Collaborating Labs
Language and Brain Lab
The focus of the Language and Brain Lab (LAB lab, PI: Michael Walsh Dickey) is on the neural and cognitive mechanisms supporting language, with research exploring both impaired and intact abilities in aphasia in order to improve aphasia treatment interventions and outcomes.
Language Rehabilitation and Cognition lab
The focus of the Language Rehabilitation and Cognition lab (LRCL, PI: Will Evans) is on the emotional and cognitive elements involved in language and aphasia recovery, with research aimed at developing adapted counseling and technology-based aphasia interventions to improve quality and access to aphasia treatment.
Communication and Cognition Lab
The focus of the Communication and Cognition Lab (PI: Sarah Wallace) is on improving communication effectiveness and quality of life for people with aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders with research focusing on strategies and interventions to improve aphasia care.
VA Pittsburgh Aphasia Lab
The focus of our VA affiliate, the VA Pittsburgh Aphasia Lab (PIs: Will Hula and Michael Walsh Dickey) is on the assessment, treatment, and neurocognitive bases of aphasia. The lab is affiliated with the VA Pittsburgh Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center and housed within the Audiology and Speech Pathology Service, which also administers the Program for Intensive Residential Aphasia Treatment and Education (PIRATE), an intensive, comprehensive aphasia program that serves Veterans from across the United States.
Current Initiatives
Pittsburgh Community Aphasia Center
Our Mission
- Enhance and accelerate progress in translational aphasia research.
- Support the Pittsburgh aphasia community and engage them as collaborators in translational aphasia research.
Programming is offered in the Homewood Community Engagement Center (CEC). Learn more by visiting our website.
Contact
Chrisa Kravetz, MA CCC-SLP
Location:
CEC Homewood
Wellness Pavilion
622 N Homewood Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Phone: 412-383-0049
Email: chk247@pitt.edu
Resources
PTARI Resources
Aphasia Games for Health
Games are a powerful way to connect with others and can provide fun and engaging contexts for language and communication practice. The Language Rehab and Cognition Lab has teamed with professional game designers, game design researchers and members of the aphasia community to co-design aphasia treatment game prototypes. Training resources and free game prototypes are available here: https://www.aphasiagamesforhealth.com/
Rob Cavanaugh, MS, CCC-SLP, is a PTARI alumni and currently an assistant professor at the Mass General Institute of Health Professions. Cavanaugh’s has developed an aphasia-friendly website for finding active aphasia research studies registered on clinicaltrials.gov: https://aphasiaresearch.org/
Assessments offered available from the VA Pittsburgh Aphasia Lab.
Shannon Austermann Hula and colleagues developed The Aphasia Communication Outcome Measure (ACOM) is a patient-reported assessment of communicative effectiveness for use by clinicians with clients with aphasia. It’s available for web-based administration or download here: https://william-hula.shinyapps.io/acom/
The Philadelphia Naming Test (PNT) is a confrontation picture naming assessment of anomia. Hula and colleagues have developed an adaptive computer-based version of this assessment (the PNT-CAT), which is available for web-based administration or download here:Â https://william-hula.shinyapps.io/pnt-cat/
General Aphasia Resources
Aphasia Access
https://www.aphasiaaccess.org/
National Aphasia Association
https://www.aphasia.org/
Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences
https://www.ancds.org/
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/aphasia/
Better Conversations with Aphasia
A free E-Learning Resource from University College London designed to to improve access to conversation therapy:  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/short-courses/search-courses/better-conversations-…
Veterans with aphasia can email Mary.Sullivan@va.gov to learn about clinical services available to veterans at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
Contact
Location:
Forbes Tower
Fifth Floor, Rooms: 5051, 5067
3600 Atwood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-648-3273
Email: PTARI@groups.pitt.edu