Aphasia Disorders Outcome After Stroke

INTRODUCTION: Aphasia is considered to be the most difficult disorders of speech-language communication, and is often companion by all forms of cerebrovascular disease. GOAL: To determine the outcome of aphasia disorder a year after a stroke and stroke type influence on the outcome of aphasia disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed one-year outcome of aphasia disorders in patients who had a first stroke. Patients were tested by a speech pathologist with the International test for aphasia, immediately after admission and one year after the stroke. All patients that were hospitalized during treatment had a speech therapy and only a small number of patients were realsed from hospital. RESULTS: Out of 74 patients with aphasia who were discharged from hospital within one year 20 patients died and 2 patients did not respond to control clinical treatment review. Analysis of the remaining 52 respondents determined that out of the 10 patients with global aphasia 8 (80%) evolved into another aphasia syndrome, and two (20%) remained unchanged in form. In most cases, global aphasia was transformed in mixed non fluent aphasia (4 of 10 patients or 40%), and in two cases (20%) global aphasia was transformed in Broca aphasia. Broca aphasia (n = 20) in other forms evolved in 9 patients (45%), and 11 patients (55%) remained unchanged in form. Anomic aphasia had 11 patients (78.6%) which remained unchanged in form, while 3 (21.4%) evolved into an Alexia agraphia. Full recovery was noted in two patients (3.84%). Type of stroke did not affect the outcome of aphasia disorders. Out of the 52 analyzed patients after hospitalization, unfortunately, only 11 (21.2%) had some kind of speech pathology treatment after leaving the hospital. CONCLUSION: One year after the stroke severe aphasia evolved into a lighter form in a significant number of patients. Most often anomic aphasia remained (34.6%), followed by Broca (25%) and Conductive aphasia (7.7%). Type of stroke does not affect the outcome of aphasia disorders. Unfortunately only a small number of patients (21.2%) continued with aphasia speech therapy after leaving the hospital.