A Novel Telerehabilitation Approach for Cognitive-Language Therapy in Chronic Stroke Subjects With Aphasia: Neurocognitive Intervention Through Neurorehabilitation Exercises and Assessments

Abstract

By stating “All people, everywhere, deserve the right care, right in their community,” <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref21" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">[21]</xref> . the World Health Organization sets, in an exhortative way, the fundamental assumption for primary health care. Under these premises, we developed an augmented and extended approach to a home-rehabilitation system to provide intensive care to chronic stroke patients with aphasia. The system proposes neurocognitive intervention based on an information and communication technologies ecosystem through neurorehabilitation exercises and assessments. In this study, we analyzed the feasibility, satisfaction, and motivation of patients, and the clinical effect of the intervention using this complex platform which, among other functions, allows the administration of speech and language home therapy. Eight patients conducted a therapeutic plan, including speech therapy, using the remote asynchronous rehabilitation system; seven patients were included in the control group (CG) and followed a traditional speech-therapy program. The analysis of usage revealed that participants made continuous and intensive use of the platform. The results confirmed the acceptability, perceived usefulness, and ease of use of the proposed platform. Clinical assessments showed that the system administers speech and language rehabilitation as effectively as traditional therapy, allowing one to consider such an approach as a valid alternative to standard face-to-face speech therapy.