Sabat Ayesha, Moodley Legini, Kathard Harsha
Department of Speech Therapy & Audiology, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
S Afr J Commun Disord. 2006;53:17-26.
This construction of self-identity pre- and post-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in a single case study is described. A life history research methodology was employed to explore the experience of a survivor of TBI, using a single case study design. The participant was a 31-year-old White South African male who sustained TBI while on duty in the army. Multiple interviews were conducted with the participant to allow in-depth exploration of his self-identity formation pre- and post-TBI. Data analysis entailed transcribing the interviews, crafting a research story (narrative analysis) and an analysis of the narrative. The results illuminated the emergence and development of a resistance identity as a product of early pre-TBI experience, the loss of self following TBI as well as the emergence of a positive self-identity. The embedded issues of communication and self-identity are explained. The participant's narrative espoused a hopeful optimism, strongly challenging the dominant disability discourse. The specific strengths and limitations, and potential value of using life histories as both a methodological and clinical tool when working with TBI survivors is described. Implications for research and clinical practice in the field of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) is also provided.
本文描述了在一个单病例研究中创伤性脑损伤（TBI）前后自我认同的构建。采用生活史研究方法，运用单病例研究设计来探究一名TBI幸存者的经历。参与者是一名31岁的南非白人男性，他在军队服役时遭受了TBI。对该参与者进行了多次访谈，以便深入探究他在TBI前后的自我认同形成。数据分析包括转录访谈内容、撰写研究故事（叙事分析）以及对叙事进行分析。结果揭示了作为TBI前早期经历产物的抵抗身份认同的出现和发展、TBI后自我的丧失以及积极自我认同的出现。文中解释了沟通和自我认同的内在问题。参与者的叙事表达了一种充满希望的乐观主义，有力地挑战了主流的残疾话语。描述了将生活史作为与TBI幸存者合作时的方法学和临床工具的具体优势、局限性及潜在价值。还提供了对言语和语言治疗（SLT）领域研究和临床实践的启示。
