Abstract
Purpose: This article summarizes current outcomes from intensive comprehensive aphasia programs (ICAPs) and examines data from one ICAP to identify those who respond and do not respond to treatment.
Methods: Participants were divided into 2 groups, responders and nonresponders, based on +/-5-point change score on the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised Aphasia Quotient. Independent-samples t tests and [chi]2 tests were performed to identify differences between groups on demographic (age and gender) and aphasia-related factors (months postonset, type of aphasia, aphasia severity, naming, nonverbal cognition measure, and self-rating of communication confidence). Logistic regression determined if factors contributed to a treatment response.
Results: There were significant differences between the groups on age and months postonset. Gender, type of aphasia, naming, nonverbal cognitive measure, and communication confidence were not significantly different. Logistic regression indicated that age was the only predictive factor contributing to treatment response.
Conclusions: This study only identified age as a predictor of responders. Future research may need to examine a broader scope of variables that can impact recovery in aphasia.