Implications for practice and research

• Poststroke aphasia may symbolise a temporary or a significant life-changing communication problem.

• The severity of aphasia on stroke patients has implications for functional capacity, discharge destination and potential to return to employment.

• The sooner a person receives treatment for apoststroke aphasia, the lesser the impact and the better the prognosis.

Context

Stroke is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide and almost 350 000 stroke survivors have aphasia in the UK.1 Depending on the severity, aphasia may affect oral communication, auditory, writing, reading comprehension and everyday communication.2 3 Long-term communication impairment of up to a year affects almost three quarters of stroke patients and there is limited spontaneous communication recovery after this time.2 Although there is a plethora …