Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

eSANA: exploration of Sub-acute AAC Needs for Aphasia

Award Number: R21DC022430
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/18/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

eSANA: exploration of Sub-acute AAC Needs for Aphasia - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Two million people in the United States live with aphasia, a communication disability in which intelligence remains intact. Aphasia is arguably the most devastating consequence of stroke, remains understudied, and contributes to health inequities. Early in stroke rehabilitation, physical deficits are quickly remedied with walkers and wheelchairs to ensure safety and support mobility and independence. In stark contrast, people with aphasia are not routinely provided similar supports—such as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)—to facilitate person-to-person interaction while their language is restricted. Recent studies demonstrate that AAC can: (1) support communication beyond basic wants and needs, (2) be adapted for people with all types and severity of aphasia, and (3) facilitate rather than hinder language recovery. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) report that only 0.5% of PWA receive AAC during inpatient rehabilitation, a critical stage of the sub-acute (i.e., < 6 months post-stroke) recovery period. This underscores serious concerns regarding the ability of PWA to make healthcare decisions in the early stages of recovery and the risk of excluding their voice in care planning. Communication barriers may also contribute to medical errors and breakdowns during patient-provider communication. Guided by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) Framework, this R21 project will use a modified Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) methodology with approximately 36 AAC partners—including SLPs, people with chronic aphasia (PWcA; ≥ 6 months post stroke), and co-survivors—to examine: AIM 1: Explore the communication encounters of SLPs, PWcA, and co-survivors to identify factors that supported or hindered AAC use during prior inpatient rehabilitation experiences via Focus Groups. Outcomes: Key partner perspectives on AAC use. AIM 2: Conduct partner Feedback Events that use emotional mapping exercises to co-identify and prioritize key challenges and opportunities for AAC in inpatient rehabilitation. Outcomes: Co-designed Priority Areas to guide AAC Clinical Pathway development (R01). These goals align with the NIDCD’s Strategic Plan priorities to both “enhance augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) capabilities” and “support novel approaches to AAC integration” (Theme 6), and “promote and improve access to clinical care” (Theme 4).


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2027 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2027	2026	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA	4202 E FOWLER AVE	TAMPA	FL	33620	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	10/20/2026	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $451,870 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA	4202 E FOWLER AVE	TAMPA	FL	33620	HILLSBOROUGH	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	9/17/2026	NEW	$451,870
														Subtotal = $451,870

Grand Total All Awards = $451,870

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

eSANA: exploration of Sub-acute AAC Needs for Aphasia

Award Number: R21DC022430

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/18/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer