Affiliations: Department of Neurological Sciences, Milan University,
Milan, Italy | Faculty of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca,
Milan, Italy
Note: [] Corresponding author: Anna Basso, Department of Neurological
Sciences, Milan University, Via F. Sforza 35, Milano, 20122 Italy. Tel.: +39 2
55033839; Fax: +39 2 55033800; E-mail: anna.basso@gmail.com
Abstract: There is good evidence that aphasia therapy is effective if
sufficiently prolonged or intensive and that chronic aphasic individuals can
also benefit from therapy, but data on chronic aphasia are scanty. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate whether chronic aphasia benefits
from a very intensive therapeutic regimen. We revised the files (January 2000
to December 2008) of the chronic subjects whom we suggested have periodic
sessions in our Unit (generally once a week) and 2–3 hours daily of homework
with the help of a family member, supervised and controlled by the
speech-therapist. Treatment would go on as long as amelioration is evident.
Results for 23 chronic aphasic subjects are reported. All subjects had
undergone previous therapy and 10 had been dismissed because no further
recovery was expected. Recovery was significant in oral and written nouns and
actions naming, oral and written sentence production and Token Test scores.
Only 4 subjects did not improve. Severity of the disorder did not predict
success or failure. We conclude that recovery was due to the intense work done.
Further, we believe such a regimen could be successful in a number of patients
for whom a less intensive regimen would not be effective.
