Efficacy of Computerized Aphasia Treatment: past Research and Future Directions

Background. Computerized treatment has evolved considerably over the past 30 years, reflecting changes in treatment strategies as well as advances in technology. The purpose of this report is to review past outcome research and provide direction for future computerized treatment for aphasia. Methods. Relevant literature is described using the five phase treatment outcome model (Robey & Shultz, 1998) for evaluating research. In addition, the application of the Internet and related technology are also considered. Conclusions. Computerized aphasia treatment has been demonstrated to be efficacious in one Phase 3 RCT study (Katz & Wertz, 1997) and in reports of meta-analyses (e.g., Robey, 1998). The Internet offers the opportunity to provide automated computerized treatment to patients in their homes and other locations, outside the traditional confines of the clinic.