Expressive language recovery or improved communicative skills: Effects of p.a.c.e. therapy on aphasics' referential communication and story retelling

Eight chronic aphasics received a P.A.C.E. therapy programme. All patients received aphasia testing as pre/post therapy evaluation. In order to assess their communicative abilities in face to face setting, referential communication and story retelling tasks were also given. Results showed that aphasics' referential communication abilities improved whereas standard aphasia parameters did not. Furthermore, when story retellings were submitted to naive listeners, those produced after treatment were judged to be more informative. It is suggested that P.A.C.E. therapy can improve communicative skills even in those aphasic patients who do not show language improvement.