Aphasia therapy software.

5.15 In addition to individual therapy delivered by speech pathologists, aphasia rehabilitation can include the use of aphasia therapy software.

References: Brady et al., 2016: Cochrane review; Devane et al., 2022: Systematic review of 14 studies (7 RCTs, 5 singlecase studies, 2 before-after studies with no control group); Lavoie et al., 2017: Systematic review of 23 studies (2 RCTs, 1 group study, 20 single-subject studies); Repetto et al., 2021: Systematic review of 13 studies; Zheng et al., 2016: Systematic review of 7 studies (5 RCTs, 1 nonrandomised comparison trial, 1 within-subjects design)

NHMRC Level of Evidence: I

Rationale: Aphasia therapy software has the potential to provide a cost-effective and accessible way of increasing treatment frequency and dose and to vary the nature of language treatments. The use of computer and/or tablet-based aphasia therapy is supported by previous research, which has generally found such therapy to be effective compared to no therapy and equally effective as clinicianled therapy, while noting that technology cannot completely replace therapists (Brady et al., 2016; Lavoie et al., 2017; Repetto et al., 2021; Zheng et al., 2016). Although more research is needed, speech pathologists may choose to use computer-/ tablet-based therapy in addition to conventional therapy for specific clients (e.g., based on personal interest, availability of suitable programmes/apps, etc.).
The use of virtual reality (VR) in the context of aphasia rehabilitation is in an exploratory phase of research. Although there is some preliminary evidence that VR-based treatment can lead to positive language outcomes similar to conventional therapy, there is currently not sufficient evidence to recommend its routine use in clinical practice (Devane et al., 2022).

References: 

1. Brady, M.C., Kelly, H., Godwin, J., Enderby, P., & Campbell, P. (2016). Speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 6(6). DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd000425.pub4
2. Lavoie, M., Macoir, J., & Bier, N. (2017). Effectiveness of technologies in the treatment of post-stroke anomia: A systematic review. Journal of Communication Disorders, 65, 43-53. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2017.01.001
3. Repetto, C., Paolillo, M. P., Tuena, C., Bellinzona, F., & Riva, G. (2021). Innovative technology-based interventions in aphasia rehabilitation: a systematic review. Aphasiology, 35(12), 1623–1646. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2020.1819957
4. Zheng, C., Lynch, L., & Taylor, N. (2016). Effect of computer therapy in aphasia: a systematic review. Aphasiology, 30(2–3), 211–244. DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2014.996521