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Abstract Rationale, aims and objectives Recovery of language function in individuals with post‐stroke aphasia is associated with a variety of patient and stroke‐related indices. Amidst a complex interaction of a multitude of variables, clinicians are faced with the arduous challenge of predicting aphasia recovery patterns and subsequently, long‐term outcomes in these individuals. Unfortunately, predictive factors are highly variable making prognosis of aphasia recovery difficult. Therefore, the objective of this review was to assess the influence of patient‐related and stroke‐related factors on language recovery in individuals with post‐stroke aphasia. Methods We completed a literature review to assess and identify evidence‐based patient and stroke‐related variables shown to be influential in aphasia recovery. Results A range of patient‐related (gender, handedness, age, education, socio‐economic status and intelligence) and stroke‐related indices (initial severity, lesion site and lesion size) were identified as potential influential factors to post‐stroke aphasia recovery. Initial severity of aphasia emerged as the factor most predictive of long‐term aphasia recovery. Other influential factors of post‐stroke language recovery included lesion site and size. Conclusions Stroke‐related factors, including aphasia severity, lesion site and lesion size, appear most critical to post‐stroke aphasia recovery. The findings presented in this review offer clinicians an evidenced‐based framework to assist in prediction of post‐stroke aphasia recovery patterns and subsequent long‐term functional communication outcomes.
Plowman et al. (Sun,) studied this question.