Experiences of ending aphasia therapy

Despite a considerable literature on assessment and treatment issues in aphasiology, little has been written about how therapy ends. We lack detail about how clinicians decide to terminate treatment and about how patients and carers view leaving therapy. This paper explores experiences and perceptions of aphasia treatment termination. It uses in-depth interview data gathered in South Australia as part of a doctoral study with a speech pathologist, three ex-patients with aphasia and one spouse. This case study allows comparison of client and professional narratives to each other and also to the official discharge documentation in the medical file. The discharge process arising from this analysis is discussed.