Achieving conversational success in aphasia by focusing on non-linguistic cognitive skills: A potentially promising new approach

Background : Recent reports from a variety of labs have demonstrated that some patients with aphasia have concomitant non-linguistic cognitive compromises, especially in the area of attention/executive functions. Recent findings also suggest that attention/executive functions may play an important role in the conversational success of persons with aphasia. Aims : This paper provides a review of recent work being carried out in a number of centres having to do with treatment of attention/executive function problems in persons with aphasia. Main Contribution : Although results of the studies reviewed herein must be interpreted with caution, there is growing support for the notion that attention/executive function skills in persons with aphasia are remediable, and that there is an important relationship between attention/executive function and functional communication in people with aphasia. The results suggest that treatment of attention/executive function in aphasia—even in people many years post-onset—may result in measurable changes in attention/executive function skills and in the transactional success of conversational communication. Conclusions : Of course further research must be completed in order to provide clinicians with adequate evidence for clinical decision making. However, this line of research represents a promising new direction in aphasia rehabilitation.