Effects of a telerehabilitation ‘booster’ on maintaining communication gains after completion of an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program (ICAP)

PURPOSE: Although a growing literature supports the positive effects immediately following participation in an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program, there is little research assessing treatment maintenance following program completion. The Teleconnect Aphasia Group project was initiated to assess treatment maintenance and provide a 'boost' of continued intervention via telerehabilitation after completion of an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program. METHOD: A longitudinal cohort design was employed, with replication across two groups of three participants each. Six participants with stroke-associated aphasia were recruited following participation in an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program, then completed one weekly 60 minute aphasia group therapy session and up to 60 minutes per week of individual coaching over four weeks (M = 1.88 hours/week). RESULT: = 4). Notably, all participants demonstrated gains in functional, participation-focused communication, as assessed by personalised Goal Attainment Scales. Furthermore, all participants endorsed the benefit of continuing language/communication therapy through telerehabilitation groups, especially when supplemented with individual sessions. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study support the provision of meaningful, impactful telerehabilitation group services to promote maintenance and generalisation of communication gains following participation in an Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Program.