Effect of Intensive Language Therapy in Subacute Stroke Patients

Effect of Intensive Language Therapy in Subacute Stroke Patients

Early stroke rehabilitation is known to be an effective and essential therapy in gaining functional independence and preventing complications. However, there was no consensus of proper amount of language rehabilitation in stroke patients. In this study, the investigators investigated the effects of the intensive language rehabilitation during subacute phase to improve language function in patients with first-ever strokes.

Intensive language rehabilitation group - language rehabilitation therapy by language therapist for 1 hours on every working day for 4 weeks

Conventional language rehabilitation group

- language rehabilitation therapy by language therapist for 30 minutes on every working day for 4 weeks

Inclusion Criteria:

• Acute first-ever stroke
• Left hemispheric stroke
• Korean version of Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test(K-FAST) < 25 (less than 65 years old), K-FAST <20 (65 years old and more than 65 years old) at 7 days after stroke onset
• Right handedness

Exclusion Criteria:

• Transient ischemic stroke