نبذة مختصرة : Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective quantitative research study was to analyze the influence of participation in an intensive comprehensive aphasia program on verbal discourse production in stroke survivors with chronic aphasia. Methods: Participants include eight patients with aphasia and their family caregivers who participated in the summer 2018 intensive comprehensive aphasia program (ICAP) at the University of Montana. Prior to and immediately following treatment, all participants underwent a comprehensive cognitive-linguistic and psychosocial evaluation. The ICAP treatment included individual, group, and technology-based speech, language, and cognitive therapy sessions, recreational outings, and home programming. Family caregiver education sessions were provided once per week, and family caregiver group counseling sessions were provided twice weekly. To assess the impact of the ICAP on verbal discourse outcomes, the Spontaneous Speech subtest of the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised and correct information units (CIUs) are currently being analyzed. Significance: The ICAP treatment model is relatively unexamined, with approximately 12-15 ICAPs existing worldwide. Evidence suggests multilevel speech and language therapy that targets words, sentences, and connected speech improves verbal discourse for functional communication/conversation. Multilevel therapy is more beneficial in improving the person with aphasia’s overall language impairment compared to typical therapy that targets a single level of the client’s impairments (e.g., single word finding). Verb retraining and semantic and syntactic therapy are beneficial in strengthening sentence output and the complexity of sentences. As sentences get more complex, conversational skills improve. This makes it easier for persons with aphasia to return to prior level of activity, therefore reducing their feelings of isolation.
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