[Long term outcome of a severe non fluent aphasia. The effect of prolonged rehabilitation].
BACKGROUND
Long-term clinical outcome of severe non-fluent aphasia is poorly reported. The efficacy of intensive speech therapy has been previously demonstrated but not the efficacy of prolonged speech rehabilitation.


METHODS
We report a single case of aphasia, with a description of the initial clinical features and the long term outcome. Moreover we discuss the rehabilitation efficacy in two situations : delayed rehabilitation and long-lasting rehabilitation.


RESULTS
A young adult was admitted after fronto-temporal cerebral infarction and presented with a severe non fluent aphasia. Spontaneous recovery involved comprehension but not verbal expression. Speech therapy began 10 months after onset and an improvement of oral expression was observed during at least 6 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates long term-recovery patterns of aphasia and the efficacy of delayed speech therapy, and moreover its efficacy at a long time after onset. No rehabilitation was performed during the period of spontaneous recovery. Consequently recovery of spontaneous oral expression can be attributed to speech rehabilitation. Furthermore long-lasting improvement can also be attributed to prolonged rehabilitation. Total amount of speech therapy for the patient can be similar to the amount of efficacious intensive therapy previously described.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings confirm the efficacy of speech therapy in the late stage of recovery, and the possibility of late improvement after stroke.
Pradat-Diehl
P
P
Service de rééducation neurologique, hôpital La Salpêtrière, 47, boulevard de lHôpital, 75651 cedex 13, Paris, France.
Tessier
C
C
Chounlamountry
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013070:Speech Therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Evolution à long terme d'une aphasie non fluente sévère. Intérêt d'une rééducation prolongée.