Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

Table of Contents - 2007 - Volume 13, Issue 05  


Intensive language training in the rehabilitation of chronic aphasia: Efficient training by laypersons

MARCUS  MEINZER  a1 c1 , SILKE  STREIFTAU  a1 and BRIGITTE  ROCKSTROH  a1
a1 Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany

Article author query
meinzer m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
streiftau s   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
rockstroh b   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Intense language training has been found to be more efficient in the rehabilitation of chronic aphasia than treatment spread across time. Intense treatment, however, challenges personnel and financial resources of the health care system. The present study examined, whether laypersons can be trained to apply standardized language training for chronic aphasia with effects comparable to training by experts. Twenty individuals with chronic aphasia participated in the training, Constraint-Induced Aphasia Therapy (CIAT), which comprises communicative language games with increasing level of difficulty in a motivating context for 3 hr/day on 10 consecutive days. Following a random-control design, training was applied either by experienced therapists (n = 10) or trained laypersons (n = 10). Standardized language assessments revealed significant within-group improvements, however, between-group differences were not present. We conclude that a standardized training program, such as CIAT, can be efficiently accomplished by trained laypersons with results comparable to that of experienced therapists. (JINS, 2007, 13, 846–853.)

(Received January 2 2007)
(Revised March 26 2007)
(Accepted March 28 2007)


Key Words: Language therapy; Treatment outcome; Stroke; Language disorders; Volunteers; Intensive training.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence and reprint requests to: Marcus Meinzer, University of Konstanz, Department of Psychology, Universitätsstr.10, P.O. Box 23, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. E-mail: marcus.meinzer@uni-konstanz.de

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