Telephonic therapy for aphasia: evaluating its effectiveness in improving language functioning

Background: Aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain injury, can have a significant impact on an individual's ability to communicate effectively. Teletherapy, or therapy delivered remotely using telecommunication technology, has been found to be an effective treatment option for aphasia. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns have made in-person therapy sessions difficult to access for some patients. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of teletherapy delivered through telephonic conversations in improving language skills in a patient with aphasia. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine if teletherapy delivered through telephonic conversations is an effective method for improving language skills in patients with aphasia, specifically in a patient who was unable to attend a video consultation due to limited knowledge, access and dexterity. Methods and Procedures: A 46-year-old male patient with reduced verbal output due to an acute ischemic left MCA stroke was selected for the study. The patient's language skills were assessed using the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and therapy goals were set based on the results. Teletherapy sessions were conducted through telephonic conversations between the patient and the clinician. The patient was also given exercises to practice at home between sessions. Progress was monitored throughout the course of therapy using the WAB. Outcomes and Results: The patient was found to have fair thinking, memory, and attention, and was able to comprehend simple and complex commands on repetition. He had good comprehension skills and was able to initiate and participate in conversations, but exhibited difficulty with naming, repetition, and semantic paraphasia. After the teletherapy sessions, the patient was able to improve his naming ability, repeat small paragraphs, initiate and participate in conversations, and improve his auditory verbal comprehension. He was also able to narrate incidents and stories, read headlines of newspaper reports, and explain their meaning, although his speech was less intelligible. Conclusion: The results of this case study suggest that teletherapy delivered through telephonic conversations is an effective method for improving language skills in patients with aphasia, even in those who are unable to attend a video consultation due to limited knowledge, access and dexterity. Teletherapy allows patients to receive therapy in the comfort of their own homes, reduces barriers to accessing therapy such as transportation and mobility issues. However, further research is needed to establish the effectiveness of teletherapy in larger patient populations.