Samtaleassistanse

Samtaleassistanse is a term used in Norwegian contexts to describe the provision of aid, tools, and strategies that support communication between people. It covers both human support and technology designed to facilitate verbal and nonverbal dialogue in daily life, education, health care, and work. The central goal is to enhance participation, reduce barriers to conversation, and promote autonomy for individuals with communication needs.

The approaches include person-centered planning and training for caregivers and professionals, as well as the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods. AAC tools can range from low-tech solutions such as picture boards and gesture systems to high-tech devices like speech-generating devices, text-to-speech apps, and smartphone-based communication aids. Digital conversation tools and AI-based assistants may provide real-time transcription, language translation, cueing for phrasing, or suggested responses to support the flow of dialogue.

Samtaleassistanse is applied in various settings, including healthcare and elder care (to support conversations with patients who have aphasia, dementia, or other speech difficulties), education (to assist students with communication needs), and workplace inclusion (to facilitate collaboration among colleagues with diverse communication styles).

Implementation often involves collaboration among speech-language pathologists, educators, caregivers, and technology developers, with emphasis on privacy, data protection, accessibility, and culturally appropriate language. The term reflects an ongoing effort to enable meaningful participation in conversation for individuals facing communicative barriers.