UNLABELLED: Hatfield B, Millet D, Coles J, Gassaway J, Conroy B, Smout RJ. Characterizing speech and language pathology outcomes in stroke rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: To describe a subset of speech-language pathology (SLP) patients in the Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes Project and to examine outcomes for patients with low admission FIM levels of auditory comprehension and verbal expression. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Five inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=397) receiving post-stroke SLP with admission FIM cognitive components at levels 1 through 5. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Increase in comprehension and expression FIM scores from admission to discharge. RESULTS: Cognitively and linguistically complex SLP activities (problem-solving and executive functioning skills) were associated with greater likelihood of success in low- to mid-level functioning communicators in the acute post-stroke rehabilitation period. CONCLUSIONS: The results challenge common clinical practice by suggesting that use of high-level cognitively and linguistically complex SLP activities early in a patient's stay may result in more efficient practice and better outcomes regardless of the patient's functional communication severity level on admission.
UNLABELLED: Hatfield B, Millet D, Coles J, Gassaway J, Conroy B, Smout RJ. Characterizing speech and language pathology outcomes in stroke rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: To describe a subset of speech-language pathology (SLP) patients in the Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Outcomes Project and to examine outcomes for patients with low admission FIM levels of auditory comprehension and verbal expression. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Five inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=397) receiving post-stroke SLP with admission FIM cognitive components at levels 1 through 5. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Increase in comprehension and expression FIM scores from admission to discharge. RESULTS: Cognitively and linguistically complex SLP activities (problem-solving and executive functioning skills) were associated with greater likelihood of success in low- to mid-level functioning communicators in the acute post-stroke rehabilitation period. CONCLUSIONS: The results challenge common clinical practice by suggesting that use of high-level cognitively and linguistically complex SLP activities early in a patient's stay may result in more efficient practice and better outcomes regardless of the patient's functional communication severity level on admission.
Authors: Cynthia L Beaulieu; Marcel P Dijkers; Ryan S Barrett; Susan D Horn; Clare G Giuffrida; Misti L Timpson; Deborah M Carroll; Randy J Smout; Flora M Hammond Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 3.966