Assessment of Significant Other's Burden and Their Communication Strategies to Enhance the Treatment Outcome in Aphasia

Abstract

Post-stroke management of person with aphasia (PWA) needs the crucial involvement of significant others (SOs) or caregivers of PWA. The manners in which SOs perceive the burden and execute their supportive communication strategies (SCS) are highly variable and are influenced by many factors like their motivation, emotional attachment, constraints of time and economy, self-confidence, and the clinical and individualistic attributes of the PWA herself or himself. There are variations regarding motivation, supportive communication strategies (SCS), significance and burden of communication to PWA by SO. These variations lead to a prognosis of a PWA, which needs to be evaluated for a better understanding of the diversity of burden and SCS before incorporating tailor-made treatment planning. These aspects have a significant bearing on the prognosis of aphasia, hence must be evaluated prior to treatment planning.