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Research Article
17 May 2018

Effects of a Tablet-Based Home Practice Program With Telepractice on Treatment Outcomes in Chronic Aphasia

Publication: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 61, Number 5
Pages 1140-1156

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine if a tablet-based home practice program with weekly telepractice support could enable long-term maintenance of recent treatment gains and foster new language gains in poststroke aphasia.

Method

In a pre–post group study of home practice outcomes, 21 individuals with chronic aphasia were examined before and after a 6-month home practice phase and again at follow-up 4 months later. The main outcome measure studied was change in naming previously treated or untreated, practiced or unpracticed pictures of objects and actions. Individualized home practice programs were created in iBooks Author with semantic, phonemic, and orthographic cueing in pictures, words, and videos in order to facilitate naming of previously treated or untreated pictures.

Results

Home practice was effective for all participants with severity moderating treatment effects, such that individuals with the most severe aphasia made and maintained fewer gains. There was a negative relationship between the amount of training required for iPad proficiency and improvements on practiced and unpracticed pictures and a positive relationship between practice compliance and same improvements.

Conclusion

Unsupervised home practice with weekly video teleconferencing support is effective. This study demonstrates that even individuals with chronic severe aphasia, including those with no prior smart device or even computer experience, can attain independent proficiency to continue practicing and improving their language skills beyond therapy discharge. This could represent a low-cost therapy option for individuals without insurance coverage and/or those for whom mobility is an obstacle to obtaining traditional aphasia therapy.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 61Number 5May 2018
Pages: 1140-1156
PubMed: 29710115

History

  • Received: Jul 21, 2017
  • Revised: Nov 10, 2017
  • Accepted: Dec 19, 2017
  • Published in issue: May 17, 2018

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Authors

Affiliations

Jacquie Kurland
Department of Communication Disorders, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Anna Liu
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Polly Stokes
Department of Communication Disorders, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Notes

Disclosure: The authors have declared that no competing interests existed at the time of publication.
Correspondence to Jacquie Kurland: [email protected]
Editor-in-Chief: Sean Redmond
Editor: Charles Ellis

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