Improvement in language function in patients with aphasia using computer-assisted executive function training: A...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Rehabilitation
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Nonverbal cognitive training is increasingly recognized for its potential benefits in aphasia rehabilitation.
• Existing research highlights a strong correlation between cognitive status and language function in individuals with aphasia.
• Executive dysfunction is a common challenge faced by patients with aphasia, impacting their overall recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of nonverbal computer-assisted executive control training (CAET) in improving cognitive status and subsequent language performance in patients with aphasia (PWA) who also exhibit executive dysfunction.
• To determine if CAET, when integrated with traditional speech and language therapy (SLT), leads to better language outcomes compared to SLT alone.

Main Methods:

• A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 68 patients with aphasia and executive dysfunction.
• Participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group receiving 4 weeks of SLT combined with CAET, and a control group receiving SLT only.
• Language and cognitive functions were assessed using the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), verbal fluency test (VFT), Proverbs Test, Tower of London Test (TLT), Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), and Trail Making Test (TMT).

Main Results:

• The experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in spontaneous speech, auditory comprehension, speech repetition, and aphasia quotient (AQ) compared to the control group.
• Cognitive functions, including performance on the Trail Making Test (TMT)-A and TMT-B, and verbal fluency test (VFT-V), also demonstrated significant improvements in the CAET-combined group.
• While oral naming showed no significant difference between groups, other language and cognitive measures indicated a positive impact of CAET.

Conclusions:

• The combination of CAET and SLT is effective in improving language outcomes for patients with aphasia, particularly in auditory comprehension and aphasia quotient.
• CAET demonstrates a beneficial effect on cognitive functions, suggesting its role in addressing executive dysfunction in PWA.
• This integrated approach holds promise for enhancing both cognitive and language performance in the rehabilitation of patients with aphasia.