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.
Manheim
Larry M
LM
Institute for Healthcare Studies, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Halper
Anita S
AS
Cherney
Leora
L
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