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Research Network

Talking Mats were developed after many years of dedicated research and they continue to be a subject of research for clinicians and academics around the world. This research is encouraged an supported by our research network, which is coordinated by Dr Joan Murphy (Founding Director of Talking Mats) and Dr Jill Bradshaw (Tizard Centre, University of Kent) who was appointed as our Honorary Associate in November 2019.

It is a virtual network, open to anyone who has an interest in Talking Mats (both as a research tool and in clinical practice) and who has completed at least the Foundation Training.  We have over 35 members from all around the world.  

We are a mix of both researchers and clinicians and we meet every couple of months as a main group.  It is a great way of finding out what is happening with TM around the world.  We are currently exploring the following topics in our subgroups:

  1. Reviewing the literature – we have created a data base of publications that have used TM.  We are using this for a couple of projects, including reviewing ways in which data generated using TM is analysed and developing some practice-guidelines around the reporting of projects that have used TM.  Once completed, we will make the data base available and we think it will be a very valuable resource.  It includes the populations and topics that have been investigated.
  2. Conversation analysis – we have been looking at the ways in which CA might be used as a method of analysing transcripts generated from TMs.  This is one of our newer subgroups and so watch this space for more information.
  3. Evidence-based resources – always keen to make sure that TMs were developed from practice, we have just set up a group to explore some new TM resources that are evidence-based and that have been developed through user feedback.

If you are interested in joining please fill out this application form and return it to info@talkingmats.com. We look forward to sharing our work with everyone!

As well as the numerous publications by the Talking Mats team, we are proud to have featured in many other research publications which you can see below:

Research Publications

Backman, E and Karlsson, A-K (2021) Children’s perspectives on mealtimes when living with a gastrostomy tube: A qualitative study.  Journal of Paediatric Nursing 58 (2021) 53-59


Mundt, I (2020) Theories that underpin the principles and strategies of the Talking Mats tool  Theories that underpin the principles and strategies of the Talking Mats tool 060920


Pampoulou, E. and Diamanti, I. (2020), “Graphic symbol preferences of adults with disabilities in one non-profit foundation in Greece”, Journal of Enabling Technologies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print (pub. online 22/07/20).


Stewart, Kitty and Bradshaw, Jill and Beadle-Brown, Julie  (2018) Evaluating service users’ experiences using Talking Mats®.   Tizard Learning Disability Review, 23  (2).   pp. 78-86.  ISSN 1359-5474 JB Stewart_Article_25.06.18


Bradshaw, Jill and Gore, Nick J. and Darvell, Cathy  (2018) Supporting the direct involvement of students with disabilities in functional assessment through use of Talking Mats®.   Tizard Learning Disability Review, 23  (2). Bradshaw et al 2018


Lauer N (2018) Talking Mats App jetzt auf Deutsch erhältlich, Aphasia und Schlaganfall “018 (March)
Click here to read 2018-03_BRA_Talking-Mats


Lauer, N (2018) Talking Mats App- jetzt in deutscher Sprache

Forum Logopadie Heft 2 (32) Marz 2018 19-21
Click here to read Lauer_2018_fl_Talking-Mats


The Tizard Centre: Finding out children’s goals for the future (2017)
Valuing the views of children with a learning disability – CBF and Mencap 2017 ,10-11
Click here to read  –  2017 CBF Tizard report


Boardman, L., Crichton, C., Butterworth, S. (2016). When you can’t talk about it: Using Talking Mats to enable an offender with communication difficulties to express his thoughts and beliefs. Probation Journal, Volume 63:1, page(s): 72-79


Exploring sibling attitudes towards participation when the younger sibling has a severe speech and language disability

Hansen,M., Harty,M,. Bornman,J. (2016)
South African Journal of Child Health 10(1) 47-51


The perspectives of adults with aphasia and their team members regarding the importance of nine life areas for rehabilitation: a pilot investigation
Lauren K. Pettit, Kerstin M. Tönsing & Shakila Dada (2016)
Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation 

Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10749357.2016.1207148


Therapy Outcome Measures for Rehabilitation Professionals (Third Edition)

P Enderby and A John (Editors) (2015)
Available from  http://www.jr-press.co.uk/therapy-outcome-measures-rehabilitation-professionals.html


What communication strategies do AAC users want their communication partners to use? A preliminary study
Hanne Sofie Midtlin et al (2014)
Disability and Rehabilitation Early Online: 1–8


Talking Mats in a discussion group for people with Huntington’s disease
Lisa Hallberg  et al (2013)
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 2013; 8(1): 67–76


Management of speech, language and communication difficulties in Huntington’s disease
SPECIAL REPORT
Alison Hamilton et al (2012)
Neurodegenerative Disorders Management 2(1), 67–77
For reprint orders, please contact: reprints@futuremedicine.com


Client Briefing: Eliciting Design Preferences from Building Users with Communication Impairments
Paul Jenkins (2012)
Buildings 2012, 2, 83-106; doi:10.3390/buildings2020083


Supporting conversation for people with dementia by introducing a computer-based third element to the interaction
Norman Alm et al (2011)
Lecture Notes in Computer Science Part 1,8025 pp. 143–149


Using Talking Mats to support communication in persons with Huntington’s Disease
Ulrika Ferm et al (2009)
International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders 2009, iFirst Article, 1–14


“Fine Fine Fine!” – Consulting Children with Social Emotional Behavioural & Communication Difficulties. Laura Coakes (NHS Forth Valley) and Joan Murphy (2006)


Perspectives on AAC systems by users and their communication partners.  McCall et al (1997) European Journal of Disorders of Communication, 32, 235-256 1997

Awards
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