Examining interactional features of everyday conversations involving Thai persons with aphasia: symptoms, extended repair sequences, and actions in multiparty interaction

Research on aphasia in Thailand is still in its early stages compared to global advancements, and studies focusing on the naturalistic interactions between Thai persons with aphasia (PWA) and their significant others are particularly scarce. This thesis investigates the interactional features of everyday conversations involving Thai PWA, with a specific emphasis on symptoms, extended repair sequences, and distinct actions in multiparty interactions.

The study employs a qualitative conversation analysis (CA) approach to examine the everyday interactions of Thai PWA and their families. Data were gathered from video recordings of naturally occurring conversations, with five participants and their families included in the analysis. These recordings were transcribed and analysed to identify recurrent interactional phenomena.

Three key areas of focus emerged during the analysis: first, the study explores how specific symptoms of fluent aphasia with receptive problems manifest in conversations and disrupt the flow of interaction; second, it examines the factors contributing to extended repair sequences in interactions involving both non-fluent and fluent aphasia with receptive problems; and third, it investigates the distinct actions taken by third parties in multiparty interactions.

The findings contribute to a broader understanding of aphasic interaction, shedding light on the unique challenges faced by PWA in everyday communication. This study provides valuable insights into the relatively unexplored areas of fluent aphasia with receptive problems and multiparty interactions. These insights have important implications for the development of future interactional-based assessments and interventions, tailored to the needs of individuals with aphasia.