title: Treatment of poststroke aphasia: current practice and new directions.
abstract: Aphasia is an acquired neurologic disorder that impairs an individual's ability to use and/or understand language. It commonly occurs after stroke or other injury to the brain's language network. The authors present the current methods of diagnosis and treatment of aphasia. They include a review of the evidence for the benefits of speech-language therapy, the most widespread approach to aphasia treatment, and a discussion of newer interventions such as medication and brain stimulation. These methods hold much promise for improving patient outcomes in aphasia; however, additional research regarding the best approaches to aphasia treatment will greatly improve our clinical approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Mackenzie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fama
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Turkeltaub
mesh_terms: D001037:Aphasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome