Functional communication assessment: An australian perspective

Abstract

For some time the aphasiology literature had remained aloof from the general discipline of rehabilitation and its struggle for realistic funding. It is therefore refi-eshing to read a comprehensive, informed and stimulating article that addresses this important issue. Although Frattali (1991) has focused on public health policy issues in the United States, many of the issues discussed are relevant to other health care systems. Certainly, functional outcome measures are very topical in Australia in this current economic and political climate. In addition, Frattali's recommendations for a unified conceptual framework for functional assessment requires urgent and careful consideration by the discipline of aphasiology as a whole.