Effects of a Tablet-Based Home Practice Program With Telepractice on Treatment Outcomes in Chronic Aphasia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Digital Health

Background:

• Aphasia, a language disorder post-stroke, often requires intensive therapy for recovery.
• Maintaining language gains after traditional therapy can be challenging for individuals with chronic aphasia.
• Telepractice and home-based digital interventions offer potential solutions for accessible and sustained aphasia rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a tablet-based home practice program supplemented by weekly telepractice.
• To determine if this program facilitates long-term maintenance of language treatment gains.
• To investigate the potential for fostering new language improvements in individuals with post-stroke aphasia.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post group study design was employed with 21 individuals with chronic aphasia.
• Participants engaged in a 6-month individualized home practice program using a tablet.
• Outcomes were assessed before, after the 6-month phase, and at a 4-month follow-up, focusing on naming accuracy of treated and untreated items.

Main Results:

• The home practice program demonstrated effectiveness across participants, with treatment effects moderated by aphasia severity.
• Individuals with more severe aphasia showed smaller improvements and maintenance.
• Higher compliance with practice correlated positively with naming improvements, while initial training time for device proficiency showed a negative relationship.

Conclusions:

• Unsupervised home practice, supported by weekly teleconferencing, is an effective approach for aphasia rehabilitation.
• Individuals with chronic severe aphasia can achieve proficiency with smart devices for continued language practice post-discharge.
• This model presents a potentially low-cost and accessible therapy option, particularly for those with limited insurance or mobility issues.