Design and Development of a Virtual Reality System for the Management of Adult Neurogenic Communication Disorders

In this paper we present a Virtual Reality (VR) system (simulated kitchen; Sim:Kitchen) designed and developed for use in the rehabilitation of adults with neurogenic communication disorders. Communication disorders are commonly associated with neurological conditions such as stroke, brain injury, and Parkinson's disease and require long-term rehabilitation with a speech pathologist. Traditional speech pathology management involves therapy designed to address the communication impairment and to teach strategies to overcome barriers to successful communication. These treatments are delivered within a clinic setting with limited opportunity for practice in realworld situations. VR has the potential to provide a safe, supported lifelike environment in which people undergoing communication rehabilitation could practice therapy tasks and gain confidence before entering actual real-world communication contexts. The aim of this paper is to investigate the perspectives of speech pathologists about the use of VR and the simulated kitchen tool for people with communication disorders as a means to optimise rehabilitation engagement and outcomes.