Investigating the role of intensity in a comprehensive, aphasia therapy program: A non-intensive trial of Aphasia LIFT

Abstract

Intensive, comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) are an emerging service delivery in aphasia rehabilitation (Rose, Cherney, & Worrall, 2013). Positive therapeutic outcomes for the ICAP Aphasia LIFT (Language Impairment and Functioning Therapy) have been demonstrated across World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning and Disability (ICF) domains (Rodriguez et al., 2013). Within aphasia rehabilitation, there is evidence favouring intensive treatment models (Cherney, Patterson, & Raymer, 2011; Robey, 1998); however, the optimal treatment intensity for even one type of aphasia therapy is yet to be established (Cherney, 2012). Evidence from the neurosciences literature, based predominantly on animal studies of stroke rehabilitation, suggests that optimal learning outcomes are achieved when training is provided intensively (i.e., many hours per day) (Kleim & Jones, 2008). In contrast, studies of learning in healthy humans suggest that optimal long-term learning is achieved when training is distributed over time (Cepeda, Pashler, Vul, Wixted, & Rohrer, 2006). This study evaluated the therapeutic effect of non-intensive Aphasia LIFT (NiLIFT) on impairment and functional communication outcomes in adults with chronic aphasia