Scoping review of communication impairment management in adults with brain tumours

There are limited clinical pathways on the management of communication impairment in people with primary brain tumour. This scoping review aimed to collate the evidence on management of communication impairment for people with primary brain tumours and determine if there is sufficient evidence to develop a clinical pathway.

A systematic search strategy (September 2023) used Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and The Cochrane Library. Eligibility criteria required the publication to be primary evidence, any study design, published in a peer reviewed journal in English, and investigating speech-language pathologist led assessment, rehabilitation, or education of communication impairment (aphasia, cognitive-communication impairment, dysarthria, apraxia of speech). A yield of 1500 articles were inputted into Research Screener software for title and abstract screening. Fourteen full-text articles assessed met eligibility criteria. Data were extracted on pre-, intra-, and post-operative assessment, rehabilitation, and education.

Assessment of aphasia was most frequently investigated. Some common formal assessments were reported not sensitive enough to detect aphasia in this population. Limited information was reported on intra-operative assessment, post-operative assessment, and rehabilitation. No studies focussed on education.

Evidence on communication management for people with primary brain tumours is limited and more research is needed to inform a clinical pathway.