Patient-reported changes in communication after computer-based script training for aphasia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate changes in patient-reported communication difficulty after a home-based, computer-delivered intervention designed to improve conversational skills in adults with aphasia.


METHODS
Delayed treatment design with baseline, preintervention, postintervention, and follow-up observations.


METHODS
Outpatient rehabilitation.


METHODS
Twenty subjects with chronic aphasia.


METHODS
Sessions with the speech-language pathologist to develop personally relevant conversational scripts, followed by 9 weeks of intensive home practice using a computer program loaded on a laptop, and weekly monitoring visits with the speech-language pathologist.


METHODS
Communication Difficulty (CD) subscale of the Burden of Stroke Scale (BOSS).


RESULTS
The intervention resulted in a statistically and clinically significant decrease of 6.79 points (P=.038) in the CD subscale of the BOSS during the intervention, maintained during the follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study provide positive albeit preliminary and limited support for the use of a home-based, computer-delivered language intervention program for improving patient-reported communication outcomes in adults with chronic aphasia. Additional research will be required to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of this intervention.
Institute for Healthcare Studies, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Larry M
LM
Manheim
Anita S
AS
Halper
Leora
L
Cherney
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome