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Purpose: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by worsening of speech and/or language. Script training intervention promotes automatized speech production via repeated practice of scripted content. This study evaluated the acceptability, feasibility, and effects of a modified version of Video-Implemented Script Training for Aphasia (VISTA) in the three PPA variants and compared outcomes by intervention modality (teletherapy vs. in person). Method: Thirteen bilingual (Spanish-Catalan) participants were included (semantic variant, n = 5; logopenic variant, n = 5; nonfluent/agrammatic variant, n = 3; teletherapy, n = 7). Using a nonrandomized design, intervention was administered in participants' dominant language. Participants were trained on an individualized script twice per week, over 8 weeks. Performance on measures related to script accuracy, content, and subjective ratings of production quality was evaluated at baseline, immediately post, and at 3 and 6 months post-intervention. Results: No significant differences were observed on the basis of intervention modality. Participants demonstrated significant improvements from pre- to post-intervention in script production, synonym production, keywords, and global quality on the trained script. Maintenance was observed when comparing performance at post-intervention relative to 3- and 6-month follow-up for script and synonym production. Significant improvement in production quality of the untrained topic was observed following intervention. Different patterns of benefit were observed by PPA variant. Conclusions: Modified VISTA was acceptable and effective across the three PPA variants, as evidenced by improvements on a broader array of outcome measures than those previously reported. Findings also provide further support for provision for teletherapy in individuals with PPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speech-language therapists/pathologists (SLT/Ps) are key professionals in the management and treatment of primary progressive aphasia (PPA), however, there are gaps in education and training within the discipline, with implications for skills, confidence, and clinical decision-making. This survey aimed to explore the areas of need amongst SLT/Ps working with people living with PPA (PwPPA) internationally to upskill the current and future workforce working with progressive communication disorders. One hundred eighty-six SLT/Ps from 27 countries who work with PwPPA participated in an anonymous online survey about their educational and clinical experiences, clinical decision-making, and self-reported areas of need when working with this population. Best practice principles for SLT/Ps working with PwPPA were used to frame the latter two sections of this survey. Only 40.7% of respondents indicated that their university education prepared them for their current work with PwPPA. Competency areas of "knowing people deeply," "practical issues," "connectedness," and "preventing disasters" were identified as the basic areas of priority and need. Respondents identified instructional online courses (92.5%), sample tools and activities for interventions (64.8%), and concrete training on providing care for advanced stages and end of life (58.3%) as central areas of need in their current work. This is the first international survey to comprehensively explore the perspectives of SLT/Ps working with PwPPA. Based on survey outcomes, there is a pressing need to enhance current educational and ongoing training opportunities to better promote the well-being of PwPPA and their families, and to ensure appropriate preparation of the current and future SLT/P workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current draft of the European Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products (COM 2022 305), it is established that all the member states have to set up an electronic register of application equipment in professional use. It will set out notification requirements for transfer of ownership and withdrawal of or return to use, and it will also record the inspection certificates. In this way, it will be possible to know the total number of application equipment units that have to be inspected. At the same time, the regulatory bodies will have information on the development of the inspection programme, because it will be possible to know how many units have already passed the inspection and when it has to be renewed. It is also important to know which are the units that have never been inspected and, therefore, they cannot be used for professional use. In Spain the registration of agricultural machines has been in place for more than 60 years. At the beginning, only the machines that have to drive on the roads, had to be in this official list, before they got the licence plate by the traffic authorities. That means all tractors, combines and other selfpropelled and towed agricultural machines (tillage equipment, seeders, mowers, balers, etc.). When the inspection of application equipment in use became mandatory, according to the Directive for the sustainable use of pesticides (2009/128/CE), the registration of all kind of application equipment, both new and in use was also compulsory. For the machines already in use, a special procedure was established to make their registration straightforward. At present, information on the current situation of the inspection programme is available on a digital database. Although there are some constraints, like some old, not used machines which have not been withdrawn, a great deal of useful, detailed information can be obtained from this database. Based on this, the inspection programme can be fine-tuned, in order to get all the sprayers inspected, which is the main objective of the current European Directive. In this paper, the set-up and present situation of the Spanish official registration of application equipment will be presented, because hopefully it can be useful for the establishment of similar tools in other member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Interventions to treat speech-language difficulties in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) often use word accuracy as a highly comparable outcome. However, there are more constructs of importance to people with PPA that have received less attention., Methods: Following Core Outcome Set Standards for Development Recommendations (COSSTAD), this study comprised: Stage 1 - systematic review to identify measures; Stage 2 - consensus groups to identify important outcome constructs for people with PPA (n = 82) and care partners (n = 91); Stage 3 - e-Delphi consensus with 57 researchers., Results: The systematic review identified 84 Outcome Measurement Instruments. Core outcome constructs identified included: (1) Participate in conversations with family and friends, (2) get words out, (3) be more fluent, (4) convey a message by any means, and (5) understand what others are saying. Researchers were unable to reach a consensus on measurement instruments., Discussion: Further work is required to develop appropriate measurement instruments that address all core outcome constructs important to key stakeholders., Highlights: We introduce new symptom-led perspectives on primary progressive aphasia (PPA). The focus is on non-fluent/agrammatic (nfvPPA) and semantic (svPPA) variants. Foregrounding of early and non-verbal features of PPA and clinical trajectories is featured. We introduce a symptom-led staging scheme for PPA. We propose a prototype for a functional impairment scale, the PPA Progression Planning Aid., (© 2024 The Author(s). Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)