A University of Pittsburgh researcher along with collaborators from Carnegie Mellon University, industry (Thorny Games and Nightsky Games), and an Aphasia non-profit (Aphasia Recovery Connection) have developed a novel letter game, The Minister’s Cat. This game is designed to improve verbal production and short-term verbal memory in people with aphasia (PwA). The game is suitable for 2 to 6 players, can be played in person and online, can improve language function in PwA, and also provides a fun and engaging social activity to fight isolation.
A letter-based game, The Minister’s Cat, can support PwA. Designed to be played in person or online it can increase language and memory skills. Players are provided with a cue card showing a letter (e.g., J). The first player draws a theme card (e.g., food) and players take turns to create fun and engaging stories using that prompt (e.g. the minister’s cat eats jellybeans).
Description
Aphasia, a language disorder resulting from stroke or other brain injury, severely impacts on the communication skills and quality of life of more than 2 million people in the United States alone. PwA experience difficulties with speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. These difficulties limit social interactions leading to social isolation and the health consequences associated with loneliness. Speech and language therapy can be beneficial to PwA well into the chronic phase of recovery but is not always accessible due to costs or availability of specialists and resources, particularly in rural areas. The Minister’s Cat could be a community-based, cost-effective, accessible, and fun therapy for PwA. The design of the game therapy means it can be administered without specialist clinician support and can be inclusive to involve caregivers, loved ones, and other PwA, providing a social outlet for this underserved group of patients.
Applications
• Aphasia
• Conditions impacting on memory and language skills.
Advantages
Games have the potential to promote language recovery in PwA as they are cost-effective and inclusive, only requiring a single purchase to provide long term ongoing therapy. The Minister’s Cat was designed to incorporate principles of restorative and compensatory rehabilitation, while being fun and enjoyable. The Minister’s Cat is a physical card game suitable for people with mobility impairments and can be played in person or online providing accessibility for everyone, particularly those in rural settings. This game is designed to improve language function in PwA and fight social isolation.
Invention Readiness
PwA and their families/caregivers were involved in the design process along with speech and language therapists and professional game developers. The game consists of a card deck with a different cat and letter on each card, and a card deck of themes with sentence prompts (e.g., food, job, song) all printed using a clear font. Players take it in turn to make sentences and flesh out stories based on the letter and theme (e.g., The minister’s cat sings…). Sentences and stories can be as complex or as simple as players wish, to allow for adaptive level of difficulty. Feedback from PwA game players has been favorable.
IP Status
Copyright
