Article

The purpose of this study was to study communication disability in stroke patients with aphasia.
METHODS: Prospective, multicentric cohort study of patients with
aphasia, consecutively included after a first stroke, and examined 1 year later
at home. Assessment included a stroke severity scale, the Barthel Index, the
boston diagnostic aphasia examination, a communication questionnaire, and the
aphasia depression rating scale. RESULTS: A total of 164 patients were included.
Among the 100 survivors assessed at follow-up, 24% had severe aphasia, 12%
moderate aphasia and 64% mild aphasia according to the Boston diagnostic aphasia
examination severity score. Patients mainly reported difficulties in conversation
with strangers and/or on abstract topics, using a phone, reading and writing
administrative documents, dealing with money and outdoor communication
activities. Communication was strongly related to aphasia severity. Age, gender,
education level, residence status and type of stroke had no influence on
communication activity. On multivariate analysis, severity of stroke and severity
of aphasia on inclusion were found to account for 58% of variance and were
independent predictors of the communication questionnaire score at follow-up.
CONCLUSION: Documenting the most impaired communication skills may help to set
priority goals for speech and language therapy in aphasia.

Langue : ANGLAIS