Acquired disorders of language and their treatment

This chapter covers the classification of acquired aphasic syndromes. It illustrates some of the speech errors aphasic stroke patients make with videos of a patient describing a picture and attempting to repeat words. The main part of the chapter assesses the evidence base for speech and language therapy (SALT) and answers the following questions: Does SALT work? What is the correct dose and intensity? And is it ever too late for SALT intervention? We then discuss two main adjuvants to SALT: one old—drug therapy; one new—non-invasive brain stimulation. Finally, we examine the role for e-rehabilitation and augmentative aids before asking what the future might hold for aphasia therapy, and wondering if it might already be here.