Systemic-Functional Perspectives on Acquired Language Disorder: A Strength versus Deficit Approach

Language impairment is a commonly occurring consequence of \nbrain impairment following left cerebral hemisphere stroke and traumatic \nbrain injury. While some recovery usually occurs, persistent communication \nimpairment interferes significantly with a person’s social \nfunctioning. Language rehabilitation aims to restore optimum functional \ncommunication by enabling a person to recover impaired language skills, \nand importantly, to utilize remaining language resources. The Systemic- \nFunctional model of language, being concerned with how language is \nused and language as potential resource, is a highly relevant framework \nfor language rehabilitation. This paper describes how Systemic-Functional- \nLinguistic theory is currently being applied to the description \nand interpretation of acquired communication impairment in adults.