Therapy Timing

Best Practice Statements

These statements have been updated by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation (Aphasia CRE) in 2024 in accordance with the most up to date research and expert opinion. (Statements originally developed by the NHMRC CCRE in Aphasia Rehabilitation in 2014)

Click on the statement for NHMRC level of evidence ratings, supporting rationales, resources and further information. 

5.1 Speech and language therapy should be provided to people with aphasia – this can target functional communication, reading comprehension, auditory comprehension, general expressive language and/or written language.

5.2 People with aphasia should be offered therapy commencing within the first month post stroke onset to gain benefits in receptive and expressive language and communication in everyday environment.

5.3 People with aphasia more than three months post onset of stroke should be offered intensive/high dose speech and language therapy if they can tolerate it. 

5.4 People with chronic aphasia should be offered speech and language therapy to gain benefits in receptive and expressive language, and communication in everyday environments.