The efficacy of functional communication therapy for chronic aphasic patients.

Twelve weeks of therapy emphasizing functional communication content was conducted twice weekly in a group setting for seven chronic aphasic patients whose average post-onset time was 97.9 months. Porch Index of Communicative Abilities (PICA) test scores did not change significantly as a result of this treatment. Communicative Abilities in Daily Living (CADL) test scores, however, revealed statistically significant improvement in post-treatment performances. A final administration of CADL tests six weeks after cessation of functional communication treatment indicated that the positive change in CADL scores had been maintained.