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Therapeutic effect of an intensive, comprehensive aphasia program: Aphasia LIFT

Abstract

The development of intensive, comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) is increasing due to evidence in favour of greater treatment intensity (Cherney, Patterson, Raymer, Frymark, & Schooling, 2008), the adoption of a broad, holistic, biopsychosocial approach in aphasia rehabilitation (Byng & Duchan, 2005; Kagan et al., 2008; Martin, Thompson, & Worrall, 2008; Simmons-Mackie & Kagan, 2007), and the desire to meet the needs of people with aphasia and their family members in therapy (Howe et al., 2012; Worrall et al., 2012). ICAPs comprise a range of therapy approaches (individual therapy, group therapy, patient/family education, technology), delivered at high intensity (minimum of three hours per day over at least two weeks), to a defined group of participants within a specified amount of time (Cherney, Worrall, & Rose, 2012). Aphasia LIFT (Language Impairment and Functioning Therapy) is a research-based ICAP that uses evidence-based therapy approaches to target language and functioning across the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) domains (WHO, 2001). The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic effect of Aphasia LIFT on language impairment, functional communication, and communication-related quality of life (QOL)

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