national-clinical-guidelines-for-stroke-fourth-edition

Speech and language therapy concise guide for stroke 2012
National clinical guideline for stroke
monitored using appropriate clinical measures
such as numerical rating scales, visual analogue
scales, goal attainment rating or a standardised
measure appropriate for the impairment.
E The nature and consequences of a patient’s
impairments should always be explained to the
patient and to the carer(s), and if necessary
and possible they should be taught strategies or
offered treatments to overcome or compensate
for any impairment affecting activities or
safety, or causing distress.
Aphasia (6.20.1.1)
A All patients with communication problems
following stroke should have an initial
assessment by a speech and language therapist
to diagnose the communication problem and
to explain the nature and implications to the
patient, family and multidisciplinary team.
Routine reassessment of the impairment or
diagnosis in the early stages of stroke
(immediate and up to 4 months) should not be
performed unless there is a specific purpose eg
to assess mental capacity.
B In the early stages of stroke (immediate and up
to 4 months) patients identified as having
aphasia as the cause of the impairment should
be given the opportunity to practise their
language and communication skills as tolerated
by the patient.
C Beyond the early stages of stroke (immediate
and up to 4 months), patients with
communication problems caused by aphasia
should be reassessed to determine whether they
are more suitable for more intensive treatment
with the aim of developing greater participation
in social activities. This may include a range of
approaches such as using an assistant or
volunteer, family member or communication
partner guided by the speech and language
therapist, computer-based practice programmes
and other functional methods.
D Patients with impaired communication should
be considered for assistive technology and
communication aids by an appropriately
trained clinician.
E Patients with aphasia whose first language is
not English should be offered assessment and
communication practice in their preferred
language.
F Education and training of health/social care
staff, carers and relatives regarding the stroke
patient’s communication impairments should
be provided by a speech and language
therapist. Any education and training should
enable communication partners to use
appropriate communication strategies to
optimise patient engagement and choice, and
the delivery of other rehabilitation
programmes.
Dysarthria (6.20.2.1)
A Any patient whose speech is unclear or
unintelligible following stroke so that
communication is limited or unreliable should
be assessed by a speech and language therapist
to determine the nature and cause of the
speech impairment and communication
restriction.
B Any person who has dysarthria following
stroke which is sufficiently severe to limit
communication should:
● be taught techniques to improve the clarity
of their speech
● be assessed for compensatory alternative
and augmentative communication
techniques (eg letter board, communication
aids) if speech remains unintelligible.
C The communication partners (eg carers, staff)
of a person with severe dysarthria following
stroke should be taught how to assist the
person in their communication.
Apraxia of speech (6.20.3.1)
A Any stroke patient who has marked difficulty
articulating words should be formally assessed
for apraxia of speech and treated to maximise
articulation of targeted words and rate of
speech to improve intelligibility.
B Any stroke patient with severe communication
difficulties but reasonable cognition and
174 © Royal College of Physicians 2012