Communication interventions for individuals with acquired brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
This review synthesizes studies involving communication interventions for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI).


METHODS
Systematic searches of electronic databases, journals and reference lists identified 21 studies meeting inclusion criteria. These studies were evaluated in terms of: (a) participants, (b) communication mode, (c) targeted communication skills, (d) intervention procedures, (e) intervention results and (f) certainty of evidence.


RESULTS
Across these studies, intervention was provided to a total of 184 participants aged 4-86 years. Communication skills targeted included: (a) social/conversational skills, (b) labelling objects, (c) receptive language, (d) sentence construction, (e) decreasing verbosity and (f) multiple skill areas. Intervention approaches were categorized as systematic/direct instruction, discussion and role play or not clearly described. Positive outcomes were reported in 57% of the studies, with three studies categorized as conclusive.


CONCLUSIONS
This literature base is considered inconclusive due to the lack of conclusive studies, the limited number of participants and the lack of replication for any single intervention approach.
Rispoli
Mandy Jenkins
MJ
Texas A & M University, Educational Psychology, College Station, Texas 77843-4225, USA. mrispoli@tamu.edu
Machalicek
Wendy
W
Lang
Russell
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D012919:Social Behavior; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome