EBP Compendium: Summary of Systematic Review
Nursing, Midwifery and Alllied Health Professions Research Unit, UK; Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK; Cheif Scientist Office Scotland, UK
Speech and Language Therapy for Aphasia Following Stroke
Kelly, H., Brady, M.C., et al.
(2010).
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(5).
Indicators of Review Quality:
|
The review addresses a clearly focused question
| No |
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Criteria for inclusion of studies are provided
| Yes |
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Search strategy is described in sufficient detail for replication
| Yes |
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Included studies are assessed for study quality
| Yes |
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Quality assessments are reproducible
| Yes |
Description: This is a review of randomized controlled trials investigating speech language therapy intervention in adults with stroke-induced aphasia.
Question(s) Addressed:
Question not specifically stated.
Population: Adults with aphasia as a result of stroke.
Intervention/Assessment: Speech language therapy (SLT) designed to impact communication.
Number of Studies Included: 30
Years Included: 1999 to 2009
Findings:
Conclusions:
- Treatment
- Language
- General Findings
- Fourteen studies compared speech and language treatment to no treatment for individuals with aphasia. The authors reported that there "was some indication of a consistency in the direction of the results which favored the provision of SLT" to improve receptive and expressive language (p. 38). However, the authors suggest that further research is warranted.
- Limited evidence from six studies suggests that individuals with aphasia may benefit from stimulation or social support to improve receptive and expressive language skills. However, the authors indicated that most of the data came from one small trial limiting the utility of the findings.
- Based on the findings of one trial, functional SLT was found to improve functional tasks but in more general measures of communicative activities of daily living the conventional SLT approach was better" (p. 38).
- Service Delivery
- Dosage
- Intensity - Four studies investigated intensive versus conventional speech and language treatment. Data from one study indicated that improved receptive language favored intensive treatment (p = 0.06).
- Provider
- Clinician and/or Trained Volunteer - No differences were found between services provided by a speech-language pathologist and those provided by a volunteer with supervision and training from a speech-language pathologist.
- Format
- Group-Based Treatment - Three studies investigated group versus conventional speech and language treatment. Authors reported no difference in expressive or receptive language skills.
Keywords: Stroke, Aphasia, Service Delivery Models
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Added to Compendium: March 2012