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Assessing Functional Communication in Persons With Aphasia: A Scoping Review of Formal and Informal Measures
Lauren Hammond1, Thomas Christensen1, Julius Fridriksson1
1Arnold School of Public Health, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
Summary
Current functional communication assessments for persons with aphasia (PWA) are limited. This review highlights the need for standardized, multimodal, and context-sensitive tools to better evaluate PWA’s real-world communication needs.
Area of Science:
- Speech and Language Pathology
- Neurorehabilitation
- Communication Sciences
Background:
- Functional communication is crucial for assessing real-world abilities in persons with aphasia (PWA).
- Existing functional communication measures for PWA vary significantly in their approach and scope.
- Inconsistent interpretations of
- functional communication
- hinder standardized patient-centered evaluations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the literature on informal and formal functional communication assessments for PWA.
- To identify gaps and limitations in current assessment tools for PWA's functional communication.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review of studies published between 1965 and 2024 was conducted.
- Searches across major databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO) identified 67 relevant studies.
- Measures were categorized as formal or informal and evaluated for contextuality, multimodality, and interactiveness.
Main Results:
- 32 functional communication assessments were identified, with 28 informal and 4 formal.
- A limited number of reviewed measures met all criteria for comprehensive assessment (contextual, multimodal, interactive).
- Informal assessments often emphasized life participation and quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Existing functional communication assessments for PWA have significant gaps.
- There is a critical need for standardized, multimodal, and context-sensitive assessment tools.
- Improved tools will enhance evaluation consistency and support PWA's real-world communication.
