Oral reading for language in aphasia (ORLA): evaluating the efficacy of computer-delivered therapy in chronic nonfluent aphasia.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the efficacy of a treatment, Oral Reading for Language in Aphasia (ORLA), delivered by computer to individuals with chronic nonfluent aphasia and compared its efficacy with the same treatment delivered by a speech-language pathologist (SLP).


METHODS
With ORLA, the person with aphasia systematically and repeatedly reads aloud sentences, first in unison and then independently. Following a no-treatment period, 25 individuals with chronic nonfluent aphasia were randomly assigned to receive 24 sessions of ORLA, 1-3 times per week, either by computer or by the SLP.


RESULTS
For participants receiving computer ORLA, change made on the Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient (WAB-AQ) during the treatment phase was larger than the change made during the no-treatment phase. Positive effect sizes for change during treatment compared with change during the no-treatment phase were obtained and were benchmarked as medium or large for the WAB-AQ and discourse measures. There was no significant difference between outcomes for computer ORLA compared with SLP-ORLA.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-intensity ORLA, delivered by computer to individuals with chronic nonfluent aphasia, is efficacious and may be equivalent to ORLA delivered by an SLP.
Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Leora R
LR
Cherney
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011932:Reading; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014705:Verbal Behavior