Group therapy as a social context for aphasia recovery: a pilot, observational study in an acute rehabilitation hospital.
Group therapy as a social context for aphasia recovery: a pilot, observational study in an acute rehabilitation hospital.
- 2016
Available online through MWHC library: 1997 - 2009, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - Summer 2006
BACKGROUND: Individuals with aphasia often receive therapy from a speech-language pathologist during acute rehabilitation. The literature demonstrates that group-based therapy provides a natural, social environment for language rehabilitation in mild-moderate and/or chronic aphasia; however, the communication of persons with acute, severe non-fluent aphasia during group treatment has not been fully explored. CONCLUSION: In the aphasia group treatment described in this study, participants initiated more communication, with greater diversity of expressive modalities and more varied communicative purposes. Participants in group therapy also showed an increased tendency to communicate for the purpose of social closeness. These findings suggest that there are important differences in the communication of patients participating in group vs. individual speech therapy for treatment of acute, severe non-fluent aphasia. METHOD: Ten participants with severe non-fluent aphasia were observed during one individual and one group session during their stay in an acute, inpatient rehabilitation facility. Communicative initiations were tallied and categorized based on type, target, and purpose. OBJECTIVE: This observational study investigated patient communication during acute rehabilitation. The primary objective was to determine whether participants initiate more communication during group therapy sessions when compared to individual therapy sessions. RESULTS: Participants initiated communication more often during group sessions than during individual sessions. During groups, participants used more vocalizations and facial expressions to communicate, and the purpose was more often for social closeness than in individual sessions. Participants produced fewer different, real words in group vs. individual sessions, but other measures of communication skill did not differ significantly between the two settings.
English
1074-9357
*Aphasia/rh [Rehabilitation]
*Communication
*Interpersonal Relations
*Neurological Rehabilitation/mt [Methods]
*Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
*Psychotherapy, Group/mt [Methods]
*Speech Therapy/mt [Methods]
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
MedStar National Rehabilitation Network
Journal Article
Available online through MWHC library: 1997 - 2009, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - Summer 2006
BACKGROUND: Individuals with aphasia often receive therapy from a speech-language pathologist during acute rehabilitation. The literature demonstrates that group-based therapy provides a natural, social environment for language rehabilitation in mild-moderate and/or chronic aphasia; however, the communication of persons with acute, severe non-fluent aphasia during group treatment has not been fully explored. CONCLUSION: In the aphasia group treatment described in this study, participants initiated more communication, with greater diversity of expressive modalities and more varied communicative purposes. Participants in group therapy also showed an increased tendency to communicate for the purpose of social closeness. These findings suggest that there are important differences in the communication of patients participating in group vs. individual speech therapy for treatment of acute, severe non-fluent aphasia. METHOD: Ten participants with severe non-fluent aphasia were observed during one individual and one group session during their stay in an acute, inpatient rehabilitation facility. Communicative initiations were tallied and categorized based on type, target, and purpose. OBJECTIVE: This observational study investigated patient communication during acute rehabilitation. The primary objective was to determine whether participants initiate more communication during group therapy sessions when compared to individual therapy sessions. RESULTS: Participants initiated communication more often during group sessions than during individual sessions. During groups, participants used more vocalizations and facial expressions to communicate, and the purpose was more often for social closeness than in individual sessions. Participants produced fewer different, real words in group vs. individual sessions, but other measures of communication skill did not differ significantly between the two settings.
English
1074-9357
*Aphasia/rh [Rehabilitation]
*Communication
*Interpersonal Relations
*Neurological Rehabilitation/mt [Methods]
*Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
*Psychotherapy, Group/mt [Methods]
*Speech Therapy/mt [Methods]
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pilot Projects
MedStar National Rehabilitation Network
Journal Article