Relevant Outcome Measures

3.7 Outcome measures for people with aphasia should be relevant, meaningful, and important to stakeholders.

Reference: Simmons-Mackie et al., 2005: Qualitative study; WHO, 2001: WHO framework
NHMRC level of Evidence: Qual.

Rationale: People with aphasia, speech pathologists and funding agencies desire evidence of therapy outcomes that improve communication and enhance quality of life for people with aphasia (Simmons-Mackie et al., 2005). The ICF (WHO, 2001) provides one framework for organising and systematically documenting rehabilitation outcomes. The ICF is based on the assumption that the ultimate desired outcome of rehabilitation is improvement in the ability to participate in the areas of life most important to that person (Simmons-Mackie et al., 2005).

 References:

1. Simmons-Mackie, N., Threats, T. T., & Kagan, A. (2005). Outcome assessment in aphasia: a survey. Journal of communication disorders, 38(1), 1-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2004.03.007
2. World Health Organization. (2001). International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Geneva: World Health Organization