Communication Sciences and Disorders Commons^™

Cognitive Reserve In Individuals With Frontotemporal Dementia And Primary Progressive Aphasia, Lauren A. Grebe

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cognitive reserve refers to the brain’s ability to efficiently adapt in the presence of neuropathological disease. This is an active process influenced by individual differences (e.g., genetics) and lifetime experiences (e.g., education, occupation, leisure) (Cabeza et al., 2018; Stern et al., 2020). The cognitive reserve theory has recently been investigated in individuals with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which refers to various disorders leading to frontotemporal neurodegenerative decline (Young et al., 2018); e.g., behavioral variant of FTD (bvFTD) and variants of Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA): semantic (svPPA), nonfluent/agrammatic (nfvPPA), and logopenic (lvPPA). However, a clear consensus on the relationship among cognitive reserve, …

Evidence Synthesis Methodology: Promoting Reproducible Methodology Through Modified Assignments, Laura Lipke, Neyda Gilman

Library Created Resources

Initially, systematic reviews in healthcare served to synthesize findings from clinical studies, aiding comprehensive access to the most effective treatments within evidence-based practice. Over time, their scope has broadened beyond treatment effectiveness, leading to a surge in publication. Consequently, many health science faculty now assign systematic reviews in classrooms without a full grasp of the standardized process, leaving students ill-equipped due to insufficient guidance and resources.

While mastering systematic review techniques is crucial for evidence-based practice, faculty can opt for modified assignments to foster a deeper understanding of the review process. These modified tasks, can be completed within a semester, …

Understanding The Effects Of Hormone Treatments On The Transgender Singer: A Pedagogical Study And Voice Studio Guide, Erin M. Hannon

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Transitioning from one gender to another can be an arduous and emotionally charged experience, accompanied by many physical and mental transformations. The journey of self-discovery and vocal explorations is both unique and deeply personal. Modifications that emerge in an individual's vocal characteristics have a profound influence on their capacity to communicate and express themselves.

Transgender vocal students and professional singers must navigate the delicate balance between their vocal and gender identities while considering the possible risks of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy. Though these therapies may significantly alter one's appearance and overall well-being, they are also capable of causing notable declines …

Rab1a Haploinsufficiency Phenocopies The 2p14-P15 Microdeletion And Is Associated With Impaired Neuronal Differentiation, Jonathan J Rios, Yang Li, Nandina Paria, Ryan J Bohlender, Chad Huff, Jill A Rosenfeld, Pengfei Liu, Weimin Bi, Kentaro Haga, Mitsunori Fukuda, Shayal Vashisth, Kiran Kaur, Maria H Chahrour, Michael B Bober, Angela L Duker, Farah A Ladha, Neil A Hanchard, Kristhen Atala, Anas M Khanshour, Linsley Smith, Carol A Wise, Mauricio R Delgado

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hereditary spastic parapareses (HSPs) are clinically heterogeneous motor neuron diseases with variable age of onset and severity. Although variants in dozens of genes are implicated in HSPs, much of the genetic basis for pediatric-onset HSP remains unexplained. Here, we re-analyzed clinical exome-sequencing data from siblings with HSP of unknown genetic etiology and identified an inherited nonsense mutation (c.523C>T [p.Arg175Ter]) in the highly conserved RAB1A. The mutation is predicted to produce a truncated protein with an intact RAB GTPase domain but without two C-terminal cysteine residues required for proper subcellular protein localization. Additional RAB1A mutations, including two frameshift mutations and …

Quantifying The Occupational Voice Use Of Teachers, Sarah E Eastman, Hamzeh Ghasemzadeh, Jarrad Van Stan, Robert E Hillman, Daryush D Mehta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: The teaching profession is a high-voice use occupation at elevated risk for developing voice disorders. Continued research on teachers' vocal demands is necessary to advocate for and establish vocal health programs. This study quantified ambulatory vocal dose measures for teachers during both on- and off-work periods, comparing their occupational voice use to that in other studies that have reported percent phonation ranging from 17% to 30%.

METHOD: Participants included 26 full-time, female school teachers between 23 and 55 years of age across multiple grades and subjects, including individuals with and without a voice disorder. Ambulatory voice data were collected …

Grammatical Parallelism In Aphasia: A Lesion-Symptom Mapping Study, William Matchin, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Alexandra Basilakos, Brielle Caserta Stark, Julius Fridriksson, Gregory Hickok

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Sentence structure, or syntax, is potentially a uniquely creative aspect of the human mind. Neuropsychological experiments in the 1970s suggested parallel syntactic production and comprehension deficits in agrammatic Broca’s aphasia, thought to result from damage to syntactic mechanisms in Broca’s area in the left frontal lobe. This hypothesis was sometimes termed overarching agrammatism, converging with developments in linguistic theory concerning central syntactic mechanisms supporting language production and comprehension. However, the evidence supporting an association among receptive syntactic deficits, expressive agrammatism, and damage to frontal cortex is equivocal. In addition, the relationship among a distinct grammatical production deficit in aphasia, …

Understanding The Resources, Barriers, Facilitators And Interests About Aging And Dementia Research Of Community Members From The Rio Grande Valley, Karla Daniela Lopez Lorenzo, Rosa V. Pirela Mavarez, Gabriela Osuna, Kendra Stine, Nathalie Chacon, Noe Garza, Gladys E. Maestre

Research Symposium

Background: One of ten people aged 65 develops Alzheimer’s Disease and it is one of the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is mostly constituted by Hispanic/Latinos (93%), a population that has a 1.5X increased risk of AD onset. Nevertheless, there are not enough resources to support people living with dementia and their care partners. This study will leverage research efforts deployed by the RGV Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research to understand the social representations about the resources, barriers, facilitators, and interests of the RGV community about dementia and Alzheimer’s …

The Effect Of Genetic Taste Status On Swallowing: A Literature Review, Theresa S. Lee, Angela M. Dietsch, Rana H. Damra, Rachel W. Mulheren

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Purpose

Swallowing and taste share innervation pathways and are crucial to nutritive intake. Individuals vary in their perception of taste due to factors such as genetics; however, it is unclear to what extent genetic taste status influences swallowing physiology and function. The purpose of this review article is to provide background on genetic taste status, review the evidence on the association between genetic taste status and swallowing, and discuss research and clinical implications.

Method

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using search terms related to swallowing and genetic taste status. Studies were included if they investigated the main effect of …

On-Campus Mental Health Service Use Among College Students With Autism: A Case Study Applying The Andersen Behavioral Model Of Health Services Use, Estella C. Lilyquist

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The unique set of impairments and limitations presented by students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) make the accessing of campus-based nonacademic resources more difficult and complicated than their typically developed peers. Each year, the rate of students entering college with disabilities continues to grow, but their mental well-being is relatively poor. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to apply the conceptual framework of the Andersen behavioral model of health services use (ABMHSU) to the experiences of college students with ASD to understand and predict their utilization of campus-provided mental health resources. The participants were seven college students with …

Lower Socioeconomic Status Is Associated With Premature Brain Aging, Natalie Busby, Sarah Newman-Norlund, Sara Sayers, Roger Newman-Norlund, Janina Wilmskoetter, Chris Rorden, Samaneh Nemati, Sarah Wilson, Nicholas Riccardi, Rebecca Roth, Lisa Johnson, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Julius Fridriksson, Leonardo Bonilha

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Methods

Communication In Phelan-Mcdermid Syndrome: Assessment And Genotype-Phenotype Correlation, Sarah Quadri

All Dissertations

Phelan McDermid Syndrome (PMS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by deletions or mutations of the SHANK3 gene on chromosome 22q13.3. Language and communication impairment are hallmark features of PMS, and this dissertation aims to address the lack of consensus on appropriate methods for assessing these abilities and genotype-phenotype correlations of language and communication impairments in PMS.

The first chapter introduces PMS and associated language and communication impairment, identifies gaps in the literature, and shows how this research fills those gaps to advance our understanding of this rare genetic disease. The second chapter identifies and analyzes practices for assessing speech, …

Resting-State Functional Connectivity Of The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex In Parkinson's Disease: A Longitudinal Study, Kaler Terry

Honors Theses

Understanding the role of brain network reallocation and adaptation within neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, is key in tracking disease progression and identifying potential biomarkers. In recent years, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has been applied in order to better understand the cognitive decline and overall pathophysiology in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The present study aimed to determine the potential role of functional connectivity changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. This is a key brain region associated with cognitive skills and executive functions. Using rs-fMRI, clinical, and demographic data obtained from the Parkinson's …

Varied Performance Of Picture Description Task As A Screening Tool Across Mci Subtypes, Joan A. Mefford, Zilong Zhao, Leah Heilier, Man Xu, Guifeng Zhou, Rachel Mace, Kelly L. Sloane, Shannon M. Sheppard, Shenly Glenn

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

A picture description task is a component of Miro Health’s platform for self-administration of neurobehavioral assessments. Picture description has been used as a screening tool for identification of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but currently requires in-person administration and scoring by someone with access to and familiarity with a scoring rubric. The Miro Health implementation allows broader use of this assessment through self-administration and automated processing, analysis, and scoring to deliver clinically useful quantifications of the users’ speech production, vocal characteristics, and language. Picture description responses were collected from 62 healthy controls (HC), and 33 participants …

Factors Affecting Variability In Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Gain In The Video Head Impulse Test In Individuals Without Vestibulopathy: A Systematic Review Of Literature, Laurel Elise Money-Nolan, Ashley G. Flagge

Ashley Flagge Publications

The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize and synthesize published evidence examining variations in vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain outcomes for the Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) in healthy individuals without vestibulopathy in order to describe factors that may influence test outcomes. Computerized literature searches were performed from four search engines. The studies were selected based on relevant inclusion and exclusion criteria, and were required to examine VOR gain in healthy adults without vestibulopathy. The studies were screened using Covidence (Cochrane tool) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement standards (PRISMA-2020). A total of …

Acoustic Voice And Speech Biomarkers Of Treatment Status During Hospitalization For Acute Decompensated Heart Failure, Olivia M Murton, G William Dec, Robert E Hillman, Maulik D Majmudar, Johannes Steiner, John V Guttag, Daryush D Mehta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study investigates acoustic voice and speech features as biomarkers for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), a serious escalation of heart failure symptoms including breathlessness and fatigue. ADHF-related systemic fluid accumulation in the lungs and laryngeal tissues is hypothesized to affect phonation and respiration for speech. A set of daily spoken recordings from 52 patients undergoing inpatient ADHF treatment was analyzed to identify voice and speech biomarkers for ADHF and to examine the trajectory of biomarkers during treatment. Results indicated that speakers produce more stable phonation, a more creaky voice, faster speech rates, and longer phrases after ADHF treatment compared …

The Urgent Need For Neuroscience Research To Consider Culture When Assessing The Development Of Gait In Autistic Children: A Scoping Review, Milijana Buac, Gabriela Ibarra, Ricardo Torres, Sinana Onal, Allison Gladfelter, Ziteng Wang

CISLL Publications

Background: Over the last decade, there has been a steady increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on a global scale, impacting all racial and cultural groups. This increase in the diagnostic rate has prompted investigation into a myriad of factors that may serve as early signs of ASD. One of these factors includes the biomechanics of gait, or the manner of walking. Although ASD is a spectrum, many autistic children experience differences in gross motor function, including gait. It has been documented that gait is also impacted by racial and cultural background. Given that …

Incog 2.0 Guidelines For Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Part Iii: Executive Functions, Eliyas Jeffay, Jennie Ponsford, Amber Harnett, Shannon Janzen, Eleni Patsakos, Jacinta Douglas, Mary Kennedy, Ailene Kua, Robert Teasell, Penny Welch-West, Mark Theodore Bayley, Robin Green

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction:

Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (MS-TBI) causes debilitating and enduring impairments of executive functioning and self-awareness, which clinicians often find challenging to address. Here, we provide an update to the INCOG 2014 guidelines for the clinical management of these impairments.

Methods:

An expert panel of clinicians/researchers (known as INCOG) reviewed evidence published from 2014 and developed updated recommendations for the management of executive functioning and self-awareness post-MS-TBI, as well as a decision-making algorithm, and an audit tool for review of clinical practice.

Results:

A total of 8 recommendations are provided regarding executive functioning and self-awareness. Since INCOG 2014, 4 …

Investigation To Examine The Profile Of Auditory Brainstem And Hearing Thresholds Using Tone Burst Audiometry Brainstem Response In A Preclinical Migraine Model, Megan Huelsing

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Migraine is a disabling neurological disease that is characterized by prominent auditory symptoms, including hyperacusis, which is defined as extreme sensitivity to sounds. The goal of this study was to investigate changes in hearing sensitivity and neural changes in the brainstem by measuring neural activity of the auditory brainstem in an established preclinical model of chronic migraine. To induce a chronic migraine state within the trigeminal system, male and female Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to three known human risk factors including neck muscle tension and REM sleep deprivation that promote latent sensitization, and exposure to a pungent odor, which …

Incog 2.0 Guidelines For Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Part V: Memory, Diana Velikonja, Jennie Ponsford, Shannon Janzen, Amber Harnett, Eleni Patsakos, Mary Kennedy, Leanne Togher, Robert Teasell, Amanda Mcintyre, Penny Welch-West, Ailene Kua, Mark Theodore Bayley

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction:

Memory impairments affecting encoding, acquisition, and retrieval of information after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have debilitating and enduring functional consequences. The interventional research reviewed primarily focused on mild to severe memory impairments in episodic and prospective memory. As memory is a common focus of cognitive rehabilitation, clinicians should understand and use the latest evidence. Therefore, the INCOG (“International Cognitive”) 2014 clinical practice guidelines were updated.

Methods:

An expert panel of clinicians/researchers reviewed evidence published since 2014 and developed updated recommendations for intervention for memory impairments post-TBI, a decision-making algorithm, and an audit tool for review of clinical practice. …

Incog 2.0 Guidelines For Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury: What’S Changed From 2014 To Now?, Mark Theodore Bayley, Shannon Janzen, Amber Harnett, Peter Bragge, Leanne Togher, Ailene Kua, Eleni Patsakos, Lyn S. Turkstra, Robert Teasell, Mary Kennedy, Shawn Marshall, Jennie Ponsford

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

IT IS CRITICAL TO KEEP clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) up to date through integration of the latest evidence. Therefore, it is with great excitement that the INCOG team presents the INCOG 2.0 Guidelines for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In this brief introduction, we provide an overview of changes in the evidence from 2014; share insights into the current state and challenges implementing cognitive rehabilitation; and provide an overview of INCOG 2022.

Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials In Patients With Single Sided Deafness, Alshymaa Ibrahim Hammad, Sanaa Mahran

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Introduction: Clinically unilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss known as single-sided deafness (SSD). It is defined by severe-to-profound hearing thresholds with a poor word recognition ability. SSD is not uncommonly encountered in otology, their symptoms is hearing loss and often associated with the vestibular system. In SSD otolithic dysfunction may be frequently misdiagnosed and majority of patients affected by cochlear and superior vestibular nerve then inferior vestibular nerve. Otolith damage may be present in patients with SSD because they sharing a membranous structure in addition they have similar receptor cell. The vestibule and cochlea may be impacted by the …

Voice Quality Assessment In Cases Of Vocal Fold Gaps After Single Growth Factor Injection, Amr Roushdyel Badrawy, Asmaa Abdel Hamid, Israa Eltaweel, Azza Abdel Aziz Azzam

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

In severe vocal fold (VF) lesions, deposits of disorganized, thick collagen bundles and little hyaluronic acid (HA) are deposited in the superficial layer of lamina propria (SLP). These changes lead to severe dysphonia and aspiration, which could be complicated by fatal pneumonia. Unfortunately, no specific treatment has been recognized due to unpredictable VF regeneration. Current progress in regenerative medicine has allowed the development of tissue engineering techniques using cells, scaffolds, and growth factors (GFs). Extrinsic GFs application could help in the induction of the regenerative process. The work aims to assess the voice quality after a single GF injection of …

Incog 2.0 Guidelines For Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Part Iv: Cognitive-Communication And Social Cognition Disorders, Leanne Togher, Jacinta Douglas, Lyn S. Turkstra, Penny Welch-West, Shannon Janzen, Amber Harnett, Mary Kennedy, Ailene Kua, Eleni Patsakos, Jennie Ponsford, Robert Teasell, Mark Theodore Bayley, Catherine Wiseman-Hakes

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction:

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury causes significant cognitive impairments, including impairments in social cognition, the ability to recognize others' emotions, and infer others' thoughts. These cognitive impairments can have profound negative effects on communication functions, resulting in a cognitive-communication disorder. Cognitive-communication disorders can significantly limit a person's ability to socialize, work, and study, and thus are critical targets for intervention. This article presents the updated INCOG 2.0 recommendations for management of cognitive-communication disorders. As social cognition is central to cognitive-communication disorders, this update includes interventions for social cognition.

Methods:

An expert panel of clinicians/researchers reviewed evidence published since …

The Future Of Incog (Is Now), Peter Bragge, Mark Theodore Bayley, Diana Velikonja, Leanne Togher, Jennie Ponsford, Shannon Janzen, Amber Harnett, Ailene Kua, Eleni Patsakos, Amanda Mcintyre, Robert Teasell, Mary Kennedy, Shawn Marshall

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

IT HAS BEEN 8 years since the first iteration of the INCOG clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) were published. Much has happened since 2014, and a considerable body of evidence has been published in the various domains of cognitive rehabilitation research represented in this special issue. Over this time, significant developments in the science of identifying, appraising, and distilling research evidence into practically applicable CPGs have emerged, as well as implementation efforts to ensure meaningful change in care delivery.

Association Of Hearing Loss And Tinnitus Symptoms With Health-Related Quality Of Life Among Long-Term Oropharyngeal Cancer Survivors, Puja Aggarwal, Marc-Elie Nader, Paul W Gidley, Raj Pratihar, Shirin Jivani, Adam S Garden, Frank E Mott, Ryan P Goepfert, Christopher Wallace Ogboe, Camille Charles, Clifton D Fuller, Stephen Y Lai, G Brandon Gunn, Erich M Sturgis, Ehab Y Hanna, Katherine A Hutcheson, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association of hearing loss and tinnitus with overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among long-term oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors.

METHODS: This study included OPC survivors treated between 2000 and 2013 and surveyed from September 2015 to July 2016. Hearing loss and tinnitus were measured by asking survivors to rate their "difficulty with hearing loss and/or ringing in the ears" from 0 (not present) to 10 (as bad as you can imagine). Hearing loss and tinnitus scores were categorized as follows: 0 for none, 1-4 for mild, and 5-10 for moderate to severe. The primary outcome …

Effect Of Nodule Size And Stiffness On Phonation Threshold And Collision Pressures In A Synthetic Hemilaryngeal Vocal Fold Model, Mohsen Motie-Shirazi, Matías Zañartu, Sean D Peterson, Daryush D Mehta, Robert E Hillman, Byron D Erath

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Synthetic vocal fold (VF) replicas were used to explore the role of nodule size and stiffness on kinematic, aerodynamic, and acoustic measures of voiced speech production. Emphasis was placed on determining how changes in collision pressure may contribute to the development of phonotrauma. This was performed by adding spherical beads with different sizes and moduli of elasticity at the middle of the medial surface of synthetic silicone VF models, representing nodules of varying size and stiffness. The VF models were incorporated into a hemilaryngeal flow facility. For each case, self-sustained oscillations were investigated at the phonation threshold pressure. It was …

Contributions Of Semantic And Phonological Working Memory To Narrative Language Independent Of Single Word Production: Evidence From Acute Stroke, Rachel Zahn, Tatiana T Schnur, Randi C Martin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neuropsychological case studies have provided evidence that individuals with semantic, but not phonological, working memory (WM) deficits have difficulty producing phrases containing several content words. These findings supported the claim of a phrasal scope of planning at the grammatical formulation stage of production, where semantic WM supports the maintenance of lexical-semantic representations as they are inserted into slots in phrasal constituents. Recent narrative production results for individuals at the acute stage of stroke supported the role for semantic WM in phrasal elaboration while suggesting a role for phonological WM at a subsequent phonological encoding stage in supporting fluent, rapid speech. …

Ambulatory Monitoring Of Subglottal Pressure Estimated From Neck-Surface Vibration In Individuals With And Without Voice Disorders, Juan P Cortés, Jon Z Lin, Katherine L Marks, Víctor M Espinoza, Emiro J Ibarra, Matías Zañartu, Robert E Hillman, Daryush D Mehta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The aerodynamic voice assessment of subglottal air pressure can discriminate between speakers with typical voices from patients with voice disorders, with further evidence validating subglottal pressure as a clinical outcome measure. Although estimating subglottal pressure during phonation is an important component of a standard voice assessment, current methods for estimating subglottal pressure rely on non-natural speech tasks in a clinical or laboratory setting. This study reports on the validation of a method for subglottal pressure estimation in individuals with and without voice disorders that can be translated to connected speech to enable the monitoring of vocal function and behavior in …

Brain Age Predicts Long-Term Recovery In Post-Stroke Aphasia, Sigfus Kristinsson, Natalie Busby, Christopher Rorden, Roger Newman-Norlund, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Sigridur Magnusdottir, Haukur Hjaltason, Helga Thors, Argye E. Hillis, Olafur Kjartansson, Leonardo Bonilha, Julius Fridriksson

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

The association between age and language recovery in stroke remains unclear. Here, we used neuroimaging data to estimate brain age, a measure of structural integrity, and examined the extent to which brain age at stroke onset is associated with (i) cross-sectional language performance, and (ii) longitudinal recovery of language function, beyond chronological age alone. A total of 49 participants (age: 65.2 ± 12.2 years, 25 female) underwent routine clinical neuroimaging (T1) and a bedside evaluation of language performance (Bedside Evaluation Screening Test-2) at onset of left hemisphere stroke. Brain age was estimated from enantiomorphically reconstructed brain scans using a machine …

Predictors Of Therapy Response In Chronic Aphasia: Building A Foundation For Personalized Aphasia Therapy, Sigfus Kristinsson, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Chris Rorden, Roger Newman-Norlund, Jean Neils-Strunjas, Julius Fridriksson

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Chronic aphasia, a devastating impairment of language, affects up to a third of stroke survivors. Speech and language therapy has consistently been shown to improve language function in prior clinical trials, but few clinicially applicable predictors of individual therapy response have been identified to date. Consequently, clinicians struggle substantially with prognostication in the clinical management of aphasia. A rising prevalence of aphasia, in particular in younger populations, has emphasized the increasing demand for a personalized approach to aphasia therapy, that is, therapy aimed at maximizing language recovery of each individual with reference to evidence-based clinical recommendations. In this narrative review, …