Speech and language therapists’ perspectives on the use of technology in aphasia rehabilitation: a systematic review with narrative synthesis

Background Technology has become an increasingly prominent focus in aphasia rehabilitation research, with growing interest in computer-based programmes, mobile apps, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence to support rehabilitation practices for people with aphasia (PWA). Despite this momentum, understanding of how speech and language therapists (SLTs) perceive and engage with technology in clinical practice is currently sparse and dispersed across the literature. Prior reviews in this field have focused predominantly on the clinical effectiveness of technology-based interventions; to our knowledge, no prior review has synthesised evidence specifically addressing SLTs’ perceptions and needs regarding the use of such technologies in practice.Methods A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted using four databases (Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed) to identify studies exploring SLTs’ perspectives on technology use in aphasia rehabilitation. Studies were included if they reported SLTs’ views on acceptability, feasibility, barriers, and facilitators related to technological tools, excluding teletherapy and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) studies. Methodological quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The six stages of thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke (2006) were employed to analyse and synthesise common themes across findings.Results From an initial pool of 1,068 records, six studies conducted in English-speaking countries were included. Methodological quality varied, with the three qualitative studies meeting all applicable appraisal criteria and the three mixed-methods studies showing more variable quality, particularly regarding sample representativeness. Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: (1) benefits of technology use, (2) barriers to technology adoption, (3) facilitators for technology use, and (4) required features of technology from SLTs’ perspectives. SLTs emphasised the importance of customisation, ease of use, training, and clear feedback mechanisms as key design features to ensure practical applicability and uptake.Conclusion SLTs recognised the potential of technology to enhance aphasia rehabilitation but emphasised the need for accessible, customisable, and clinically relevant solutions, supported by adequate organisational and technical infrastructure. As the evidence base remains limited to well-resourced, English-speaking healthcare systems, further research is needed to establish whether these findings extend to other linguistic and cultural contexts.