The effects of intensive language therapy in aphasic patients

Aphasia defined as an acquired communication disorder caused by brain damage and characterized by an impairment of language modalities including speaking, listening, reading, and writing.1 There are many treatments to restore language functions. Intensive language therapy is one of the most effective treatment approaches. Studies demonstrated that intensive aphasia therapy delivered over 2-3 months were critical to maximize the aphasia recovery and also they reported that higher-intensity therapy provided over a short period results in a significant change in outcome. One novel method of intensive language treating is constraint- induced aphasia therapy (CIAT). In this protocol, patients with aphasia who receive short-term, intensive speech therapy is forced to communicate verbally, and all compensatory strategies (e.g., gesturing, writing, pointing) are restricted.