Group therapy as a social context for aphasia recovery: a pilot, observational study in an acute rehabilitation hospital.

MedStar author(s):
Citation: Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation. 23(4):276-83, 2016 AugPMID: 27077989Institution: MedStar National Rehabilitation NetworkForm of publication: Journal ArticleMedline article type(s): Journal ArticleSubject headings: *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 ProjectsYear: 2016Local holdings: Available online through MWHC library: 1997 - 2009, Available in print through MWHC library: 1999 - Summer 2006ISSN:
  • 1074-9357
Name of journal: Topics in stroke rehabilitationAbstract: 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.All authors: Baron CR, Fama ME, Hatfield B, Turkeltaub PEFiscal year: FY2017Digital Object Identifier: Date added to catalog: 2017-05-24
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Item type Current library Collection Call number Status Date due Barcode
Journal Article MedStar Authors Catalog Article 27077989 Available 27077989

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.

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