Keywords

Aphasia, Poetry, Poetry Therapy

Subject Categories

Counseling Psychology | Speech Pathology and Audiology

Abstract

People with aphasia often experience significant barriers to communication, emotional expression, and participation in meaningful life activities following stroke or neurological injury. Although poetry and creative expression have been explored in broader therapeutic contexts, limited research has examined how people with aphasia perceive poetry. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of people with aphasia regarding definitions of poetry, level of interest in poetry and the factors influencing said interest. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults with aphasia recruited through convenience sampling. Participants responded to questions before and after exposure to the poem Trust by Mark Harder, a stroke survivor with aphasia. Interviews incorporated aphasia-friendly communication supports, including visual aids and simplified formatting, to maximize accessibility and participation. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Correlation analyses were also conducted to examine the relationship between reading/writing ability and interest in reading/writing poetry. Participants frequently described poetry as concise, flexible, emotional, creative, and distinct from narrative prose. Although many participants identified similar characteristics of poetry, they also demonstrated uncertainty in defining and identifying non-prototypical poetry. Many participants expressed interest in poetry as a meaningful avenue for self-expression despite language related challenges associated with aphasia, reading and writing difficulties, and limited prior and post-stroke exposure to poetry. Participants also expressed interest in poetry due to its accessibility, citing its short format and lack of rigid rules. Additionally, participants showed interest in the sense of community and emotional benefits associated with participation in poetry groups. Data concerning participants perspectives on poetry shed light on the potential benefits of poetry as a means of emotional and creative expression for people with aphasia.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Deena Schwen Blackett

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Health Professions and Sciences

Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Format

PDF

Document Type

Thesis

Language

English

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