Communication and quality of life outcomes from an interprofessional intensive, comprehensive, aphasia program (ICAP)

Abstract

Background: Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs (ICAPs) have developed in response to a growing need for treatments which produce changes in language function in people with aphasia, especially in the chronic phase of recovery. ICAPs are growing in number and several papers have presented preliminary results of their use, but little data exist about their efficacy or effectiveness.

Objective: This paper explores the communication effects of an ICAP program that incorporated evidenced-based individual and group treatment in an interprofessional program.

Method: Twenty-seven individuals with chronic aphasia were provided with 30 h of interprofessional treatment a week for a four-week period in both individual and group formats. A delayed treatment, within-participant research protocol was used. Language measures were taken at two intervals pre- and two intervals post treatment. Functional, narrative, and quality of life measures were taken once pre and once post treatment.

Results: Significant change was observed on targeted language functions post treatment. Significant treatment effects were also observed on functional and quality of life measures as well as on all impairment-based language measures for the group.

Conclusion: The results provide evidence of linguistic and quality of life change in individuals with chronic aphasia who were treated in an interprofessional ICAP.

Notes

¹ Benchmark set by authors for clinically significant improvement.

² An average of 8 second-year speech-language graduate students were recruited to participate in the program each year. All had already completed the aphasia course. They received extensive interprofessional orientation, 100% supervision, and daily training to ensure treatment fidelity.

³ Measures 1–10 (Table 2).