Breaking the communication barrier using new technologies in aphasic patients post-stroke

Objectives

To improve language in aphasic patients after a recent ischaemic stroke using computer applications for mobile devices (tablet) for 30 days and to establish whether length of use influences this improvement.

Method

Randomised, prospective, single-centre clinical trial with two intervention groups, one of which was a control group. Aphasic patients were included within a maximum of 7 days after an ischaemic stroke. The intervention group used tablet-specific software for 30 days. Language improvement was assessed using the Mississippi Aphasia Screening Test (MAST).

Results

The sample was 40 patients, mean age 73 years (± 10.2). Fifty percent were women. Patients were equally divided between the 2 groups. Mean device use was 311.8 (±334.6) minutes after the end of 30 days, with a final mean improvement in MAST of 46.5 (±22.3) points in the intervention group and 34.8 (±21.7) in the control group (p = .233). Adjusting for age, the results indicate that the patients who tend to improve the most are those under 65 years of age (43.8 (±30.5) points, p = .205). We were unable to demonstrate significant differences between the two groups.

Discussion and/or conclusions

The results obtained in the study suggest that new technologies can be an effective tool for language recovery, especially in young patients. Multicentre studies with a larger sample size and younger patients may be able to demonstrate the usefulness of this new tool.