Speech-language pathology interventions for multilingual people with aphasia across the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health: a scoping review

Background As worldwide linguistic diversity increases, and ageing populations become more vulnerable to stroke, speech-language pathologists face a growing cohort of older multilingual people with unique neurorehabilitation needs. Synthesising the scope and nature of multilingual aphasia therapy research may support clinicians to provide appropriate, equitable healthcare.Aims To identify the scope and nature of speech-language pathology interventions for multilingual aphasia, and to map the reported outcomes of these interventions to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).Methods & Procedures A scoping review was conducted. A search strategy was developed for nine databases in 24 languages. Data were extracted regarding study design, participant characteristics, and intervention components. Outcomes measures in included studies were mapped to the ICF.Outcomes & Results Seventy studies across three languages (English, Spanish, and French) were included. Study designs varied, with most articles describing case series. Most studies (96%) reported outcomes for one ICF domain, the most frequent being Body Structures and Functions. Interventions typically targeted participants’ second language (L2). Though statistical significance was often unclear, cross-linguistic transfer of therapy benefits was reported in 60% of studies.Conclusions Many included studies reflected low levels of evidence and therapy that targeted participants’ L2 in the Body Structures and Functions domain. Future studies require more robust methodological designs, and should include interventions targeting multiple ICF domains, and treatments in patients’ first language (L1).