Characterizing Speech and Language Pathology Outcomes in Stroke Rehabilitation
Abstract
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 poststroke 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 poststroke 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.
cNeuro Specialty Rehabilitation, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT
dInternational Severity Information Systems Inc, Salt Lake City, UT
Reprint requests to Brooke Hatfield, MS, CCC-SLP, National Rehabilitation Hospital, 102 Irving St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (grant no. H133B990005) and the U.S. Army and Materiel Command (cooperative agreement award no. DAMD17-02-2-0032). The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this article are those of the author(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy, or decision unless so designated by other documentation.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
ABSTRACT