Intensive language training in the rehabilitation of chronic aphasia: efficient training by laypersons.

Full Abstract

Intense language training has been found to be more efficient in the rehabilitation of chronic aphasia than treatment spread across time. Intense treatment, however, challenges personnel and financial resources of the health care system. The present study examined, whether laypersons can be trained to apply standardized language training for chronic aphasia with effects comparable to training by experts. Twenty individuals with chronic aphasia participated in the training, Constraint-Induced Aphasia Therapy (CIAT), which comprises communicative language games with increasing level of difficulty in a motivating context for 3 hr/day on 10 consecutive days. Following a random-control design, training was applied either by experienced therapists (n=10) or trained laypersons (n=10). Standardized language assessments revealed significant within-group improvements, however, between-group differences were not present. We conclude that a standardized training program, such as CIAT, can be efficiently accomplished by trained laypersons with results comparable to that of experienced therapists.

Author information

Author/s: Meinzer, Marcus (M); Streiftau, Silke (S); Rockstroh, Brigitte (B);

Affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany. marcus.meinzer(-atsign-)uni-konstanz.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS (J Int Neuropsychol Soc), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Sep; vol 13 (issue 5) : pp 846-53

Dates: Created 2007/08/16; Completed 2007/10/26;

PMID: 17697416, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.