Advances in neuroscience research have led to the development of novel treatments for poststroke aphasiaIntensive language–action therapy, pharmacological interventions and noninvasive brain stimulation can enhance language performance in patients with poststroke aphasiaIntensive language–action therapy can improve language performance of patients with aphasia several years after a stroke episodeConstraint-induced aphasia therapy is more effective than conventional speech–language therapy at treating chronic poststroke aphasiaDrug therapies targeting linguistic and cognitive disorders can augment functional improvements associated with intensive language–action therapy
Patients with stroke can have difficulty speaking and understanding speech (aphasia), and patients with poststroke aphasia (PSA) can also have problems reading and writing. PSA is one of the most common cognitive disorders; the incidence of PSA has been reported to be 43–60 per 100,000 individuals in Europe and the USA,1,2 and the incidence of this condition increases further in the elderly population.3 Immediately after a stroke episode, patients can become entirely mute; however, the symptoms usually ease within a few weeks after disease onset owing to spontaneous partial restitution of cognitive and motor functions. Further spontaneous improvements after this time period are rare.
