-
BMJ Open Oct 2017To review and synthesise qualitative literature relating to the longer-term needs of community dwelling stroke survivors with communication difficulties including... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To review and synthesise qualitative literature relating to the longer-term needs of community dwelling stroke survivors with communication difficulties including aphasia, dysarthria and apraxia of speech.
DESIGN
Systematic review and thematic synthesis.
METHOD
We included studies employing qualitative methodology which focused on the perceived or expressed needs, views or experiences of stroke survivors with communication difficulties in relation to the day-to-day management of their condition following hospital discharge. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences and AMED and undertook grey literature searches. Studies were assessed for methodological quality by two researchers independently and the findings were combined using thematic synthesis.
RESULTS
Thirty-two studies were included in the thematic synthesis. The synthesis reveals the ongoing difficulties stroke survivors can experience in coming to terms with the loss of communication and in adapting to life with a communication difficulty. While some were able to adjust, others struggled to maintain their social networks and to participate in activities which were meaningful to them. The challenges experienced by stroke survivors with communication difficulties persisted for many years poststroke. Four themes relating to longer-term need were developed: managing communication outside of the home, creating a meaningful role, creating or maintaining a support network and taking control and actively moving forward with life.
CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the experiences of stroke survivors with communication difficulties is vital for ensuring that longer-term care is designed according to their needs. Wider psychosocial factors must be considered in the rehabilitation of people with poststroke communication difficulties. Self-management interventions may be appropriate to help this subgroup of stroke survivors manage their condition in the longer-term; however, such approaches must be designed to help survivors to manage the unique psychosocial consequences of poststroke communication difficulties.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Aphasia; Apraxias; Communication; Communication Disorders; Dysarthria; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Independent Living; Long-Term Care; Psychology; Social Support; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Survivors
PubMed: 28988185
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017944 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2019Patterns of language impairment in multilingual speakers with post-stroke aphasia are diverse: in some cases the language deficits are parallel, that is, all languages...
Patterns of language impairment in multilingual speakers with post-stroke aphasia are diverse: in some cases the language deficits are parallel, that is, all languages are impaired relatively equally, whereas in other cases deficits are differential, that is, one language is more impaired than the other(s). This diversity stems from the intricate structure of the multilingual language system, which is shaped by a complex interplay of influencing factors, such as age of language acquisition, frequency of language use, premorbid proficiency, and linguistic similarity between one's languages. Previous theoretical reviews and empirical studies shed some light on these factors, however no clear answers have been provided. The goals of this review were to provide a timely update on the increasing number of reported cases in the last decade and to offer a systematic analysis of the potentially influencing variables. One hundred and thirty cases from 65 studies were included in the present systematic review and effect sizes from 119 cases were used in the meta-analysis. Our analysis revealed better performance in L1 compared to L2 in the whole sample of bilingual speakers with post-stroke aphasia. However, the magnitude of this difference was influenced by whether L2 was learned early in childhood or later: those who learned L2 before 7 years of age showed comparable performance in both of their languages contrary to the bilinguals who learned L2 after 7 years of age and showed better performance in L1 compared to L2. These robust findings were moderated mildly by premorbid proficiency and frequency of use. Finally, linguistic similarity did not appear to influence the magnitude of the difference in performance between L1 and L2. Our findings from the early bilingual subgroup were in line with the previous reviews which included mostly balanced early bilinguals performing comparably in both languages. Our findings from the late bilingual subgroup stressed the primacy of L1 and the importance of age of L2 learning. In addition, the evidence from the present review provides support for theories emphasizing the role of premorbid proficiency and language use in language impairment patterns in bilingual aphasia.
PubMed: 31024369
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00445 -
Journal of Speech, Language, and... Nov 2022Emotional stimuli have been shown to influence language processing (both language comprehension and production) in people with aphasia (PWA); however, this finding is...
PURPOSE
Emotional stimuli have been shown to influence language processing (both language comprehension and production) in people with aphasia (PWA); however, this finding is not universally reported. Effects of emotional stimuli on language performance in PWA could have clinical and theoretical implications, yet the sparsity of studies and variability among them make it difficult to appraise the significance of this effect. The purpose of this scoping review was to (a) determine the extent and range of research examining the effect of emotional stimuli on language processing in PWA, (b) summarize and evaluate research findings, and (c) identify gaps in the literature that may warrant future study.
METHOD
PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were systematically searched for articles that compared performance in response to emotional and nonemotional stimuli on at least one language measure in one or more adults with aphasia. Data related to methods and results were extracted from each article and charted in Excel.
RESULTS
Five hundred forty unique articles were found, and 18 articles, consisting of 19 studies, met inclusion/exclusion criteria for this review. Of the 19 studies included, 11 studies reported enhanced performance on a language task for emotional compared to nonemotional stimuli, seven reported no difference, and one reported worse performance for emotional compared to nonemotional stimuli. Possible modulating variables such as task type, measurement, stimulus characteristics, and sample characteristics are discussed along with gaps in the literature.
CONCLUSION
The extent of research in this area is sparse; however, there does appear to be some early evidence for better performance in response to emotional over nonemotional stimuli in PWA for some, but not all, language processes investigated.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Language; Aphasia; Language Tests; Emotions
PubMed: 36264665
DOI: 10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00104 -
American Journal of Speech-language... Aug 2020Purpose Functional brain imaging is playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders, yet many populations and settings...
Purpose Functional brain imaging is playing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders, yet many populations and settings are incompatible with functional magnetic resonance imaging and other commonly used techniques. We conducted a systematic review of neuroimaging studies using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) with individuals with speech or language impairment across the life span. We aimed to answer the following question: To what extent has fNIRS been used to investigate the neural correlates of speech-language impairment? Method This systematic review was preregistered with PROSPERO, the international prospective register of systematic reviews (CRD42019136464). We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol for preferred reporting items for systematic reviews. The database searches were conducted between February and March of 2019 with the following search terms: (a) fNIRS or functional near-infrared spectroscopy or NIRS or near-infrared spectroscopy, (b) speech or language, and (c) disorder or impairment or delay. Results We found 34 fNIRS studies that involved individuals with speech or language impairment across nine categories: (a) autism spectrum disorders; (b) developmental speech and language disorders; (c) cochlear implantation and deafness; (d) dementia, dementia of the Alzheimer's type, and mild cognitive impairment; (e) locked-in syndrome; (f) neurologic speech disorders/dysarthria; (g) stroke/aphasia; (h) stuttering; and (i) traumatic brain injury. Conclusions Though it is not without inherent challenges, fNIRS may have advantages over other neuroimaging techniques in the areas of speech and language impairment. fNIRS has clinical applications that may lead to improved early and differential diagnosis, increase our understanding of response to treatment, improve neuroprosthetic functioning, and advance neurofeedback.
Topics: Brain; Humans; Language Development Disorders; Longevity; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; Speech
PubMed: 32640168
DOI: 10.1044/2020_AJSLP-19-00050 -
Nature Protocols Mar 2022Low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including alternating or direct current stimulation, applies weak electrical stimulation to modulate the... (Review)
Review
Low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES), including alternating or direct current stimulation, applies weak electrical stimulation to modulate the activity of brain circuits. Integration of tES with concurrent functional MRI (fMRI) allows for the mapping of neural activity during neuromodulation, supporting causal studies of both brain function and tES effects. Methodological aspects of tES-fMRI studies underpin the results, and reporting them in appropriate detail is required for reproducibility and interpretability. Despite the growing number of published reports, there are no consensus-based checklists for disclosing methodological details of concurrent tES-fMRI studies. The objective of this work was to develop a consensus-based checklist of reporting standards for concurrent tES-fMRI studies to support methodological rigor, transparency and reproducibility (ContES checklist). A two-phase Delphi consensus process was conducted by a steering committee (SC) of 13 members and 49 expert panelists through the International Network of the tES-fMRI Consortium. The process began with a circulation of a preliminary checklist of essential items and additional recommendations, developed by the SC on the basis of a systematic review of 57 concurrent tES-fMRI studies. Contributors were then invited to suggest revisions or additions to the initial checklist. After the revision phase, contributors rated the importance of the 17 essential items and 42 additional recommendations in the final checklist. The state of methodological transparency within the 57 reviewed concurrent tES-fMRI studies was then assessed by using the checklist. Experts refined the checklist through the revision and rating phases, leading to a checklist with three categories of essential items and additional recommendations: (i) technological factors, (ii) safety and noise tests and (iii) methodological factors. The level of reporting of checklist items varied among the 57 concurrent tES-fMRI papers, ranging from 24% to 76%. On average, 53% of checklist items were reported in a given article. In conclusion, use of the ContES checklist is expected to enhance the methodological reporting quality of future concurrent tES-fMRI studies and increase methodological transparency and reproducibility.
Topics: Checklist; Consensus; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Reproducibility of Results; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
PubMed: 35121855
DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00664-5 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2022To systematically collate, appraise, and synthesize evidence of electroacupuncture (EA) as an adjunct therapy for poststroke aphasia (PSA) from randomized controlled...
BACKGROUND
To systematically collate, appraise, and synthesize evidence of electroacupuncture (EA) as an adjunct therapy for poststroke aphasia (PSA) from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
METHODS
An electronic search was conducted in eight databases to identify RCTs evaluating EA adjuvant therapy versus speech and language therapy (SLT). Methodological quality of the included trails was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias. The software Review Manager 5.4 was used for data analysis.
RESULTS
Nineteen RCTs enrolling a total of 1263 subjects were identified. The use of EA combined with speech and language therapy (SLT) showed significant improvements in effective rate (RR 1.31, 95% CI [1.21, 1.41]), oral expression score (SMD 1.34, 95% CI [1.13, 1.56]), comprehension score (SMD 1.95, 95% CI [0.88, 3.03]), repetition score (SMD 1.84, 95% CI [0.75, 2.93]), naming score (SMD 1.97, 95% CI [0.81, 3.13]), and reading score (SMD 1.55, 95% CI [1.07, 2.04]) compared to the use of SLT alone.
CONCLUSIONS
The pooled data indicate that EA combined with SLT for the treatment of PSA may improve clinical effectiveness, compared with SLT alone. Future high quality RCTs with large samples are still needed to confirm and expand our findings.
PubMed: 35966732
DOI: 10.1155/2022/1271205 -
General Psychiatry 2019The employment of clinical databases in the study of mental disorders is essential to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental illness. While text corpora...
BACKGROUND
The employment of clinical databases in the study of mental disorders is essential to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental illness. While text corpora obtain merely limited information of content, speech corpora capture tones, emotions, rhythms and many other signals beyond content. Hence, the design and development of speech corpora for patients with mental disorders is increasingly important.
AIM
This review aims to extract the existing speech corpora for mental disorders from online databases and peer-reviewed journals in order to demonstrate both achievements and challenges in this area.
METHODS
The review first covers publications or resources worldwide, and then leads to the reports from China, followed by a comparison between Chinese and non-Chinese regions.
RESULTS
Most of the speech databases were recorded in Europe or the United States by audio or video. Some were even supplemented by brain images and Event-Related Potential (ERP) statistics. The corpora were mostly developed for patients with neurocognitive disorders like stutter and aphasia, and mental illness like dementia, while other types of mental illness such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and autism were scarce in number in database development.
STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
The results demonstrated that database development of neurocognitive disorders in China is much scarcer than that in some European countries, but the existing databases pave an instructive road for psychiatric problems. Also, the methods and applications of databases from the leading countries are inspiring for Chinese scholars, who are searching methods for developing a comprehensive resource for clinical studies.
PubMed: 31423472
DOI: 10.1136/gpsych-2018-100022 -
Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation... Jun 2014This review examines the effectiveness of semantic feature analysis as an intervention to improve naming abilities for persons with aphasia. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
This review examines the effectiveness of semantic feature analysis as an intervention to improve naming abilities for persons with aphasia.
METHOD
A systematic search of the literature identified 11 studies that met the pre-determined inclusion criteria. Two independent raters evaluated each study for methodological quality and assigned appropriate levels of evidence using the Single Case Experimental Design scale. To determine clinical effectiveness, effect sizes using Cohen's d were calculated if sufficient data were available. Alternatively, percent of non-overlapping data was calculated.
RESULTS
Results indicated that methodologically sound research has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of semantic feature analysis for persons with aphasia using single subject research designs. When using Cohen's d, the majority of participants showed a small effect size. However, when percent of non-overlapping data was calculated, a large treatment effect was present for the majority of participants.
CONCLUSIONS
Semantic feature analysis was an effective intervention for improving confrontational naming for the majority of participants included in the current review. Further research is warranted to examine generalization effects.
Topics: Aphasia; Communication; Cues; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Semantics
PubMed: 24797214
DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2014.03.002 -
Journal of Speech, Language, and... Feb 2023Increasingly, mechanisms of learning are being considered during aphasia rehabilitation. Well-characterized learning mechanisms can inform "how" interventions should be...
PURPOSE
Increasingly, mechanisms of learning are being considered during aphasia rehabilitation. Well-characterized learning mechanisms can inform "how" interventions should be administered to maximize the acquisition and retention of treatment gains. This systematic scoping review mapped hypothesized mechanisms of action (MoAs) and treatment ingredients in three learning-based approaches targeting naming in aphasia: errorless learning (ELess), errorful learning (EFul), and retrieval practice (RP). The rehabilitation treatment specification system was leveraged to describe available literature and identify knowledge gaps within a unified framework.
METHOD
PubMed and CINHAL were searched for studies that compared ELess, EFul, and/or RP for naming in aphasia. Independent reviewers extracted data on proposed MoAs, treatment ingredients, and outcomes.
RESULTS
Twelve studies compared ELess and EFul, six studies compared ELess and RP, and one study compared RP and EFul. Hebbian learning, gated Hebbian learning, effortful retrieval, and models of incremental learning via lexical access were proposed as MoAs. To maximize treatment outcomes within theorized MoAs, researchers manipulated study ingredients including cues, scheduling, and feedback. Outcomes in comparative effectiveness studies were examined to identify ingredients that may influence learning. Individual-level variables, such as cognitive and linguistic abilities, may affect treatment response; however, findings were inconsistent across studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Significant knowledge gaps were identified and include (a) which MoAs operate during ELess, EFul, and RP; (b) which ingredients are active and engage specific MoAs; and (c) how individual-level variables may drive treatment administration. Theory-driven research can support or refute MoAs and active ingredients enabling clinicians to modify treatments within theoretical frameworks.
Topics: Humans; Learning; Aphasia; Cues; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36729701
DOI: 10.1044/2022_JSLHR-22-00251 -
Journal of Neuroengineering and... Jan 2023Stroke is a significant contributor of worldwide disability and morbidity with substantial economic consequences. Rehabilitation is a vital component of stroke recovery,...
BACKGROUND
Stroke is a significant contributor of worldwide disability and morbidity with substantial economic consequences. Rehabilitation is a vital component of stroke recovery, but inpatient stroke rehabilitation programs can struggle to meet the recommended hours of therapy per day outlined by the Canadian Stroke Best Practices and American Heart Association. Mobile applications (apps) are an emerging technology which may help bridge this deficit, however this area is understudied. The purpose of this study is to review the effect of mobile apps for stroke rehabilitation on stroke impairments and functional outcomes. Specifically, this paper will delve into the impact of varying mobile app types on stroke rehabilitation.
METHODS
This systematic review included 29 studies: 11 randomized control trials and 18 quasi-experimental studies. Data extrapolation mapped 5 mobile app types (therapy apps, education apps, rehab videos, reminders, and a combination of rehab videos with reminders) to stroke deficits (motor paresis, aphasia, neglect), adherence to exercise, activities of daily living (ADLs), quality of life, secondary stroke prevention, and depression and anxiety.
RESULTS
There were multiple studies supporting the use of therapy apps for motor paresis or aphasia, rehab videos for exercise adherence, and reminders for exercise adherence. For permutations involving other app types with stroke deficits or functional outcomes (adherence to exercise, ADLs, quality of life, secondary stroke prevention, depression and anxiety), the results were either non-significant or limited by a paucity of studies.
CONCLUSION
Mobile apps demonstrate potential to assist with stroke recovery and augment face to face rehabilitation, however, development of a mobile app should be carefully planned when targeting specific stroke deficits or functional outcomes. This study found that mobile app types which mimicked principles of effective face-to-face therapy (massed practice, task-specific practice, goal-oriented practice, multisensory stimulation, rhythmic cueing, feedback, social interaction, and constraint-induced therapy) and education (interactivity, feedback, repetition, practice exercises, social learning) had the greatest benefits. Protocol registration PROPSERO (ID CRD42021186534). Registered 21 February 2021.
Topics: Humans; Activities of Daily Living; Aphasia; Canada; Mobile Applications; Quality of Life; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation
PubMed: 36694257
DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01124-9