Communication partner training recommended to support people with aphasia

Training for health professionals and volunteers who work with people with aphasia after stroke has been endorsed in the latest updates to the Living Stroke Guidelines. Also included is a recommendation that communication partner training may be given to carers or family members of those with aphasia, as well as updates to a recommendation for structured management plans for urinary incontinence.

Communication partner training is given to people who are conversation partners, i.e. they interact with someone with aphasia. Several case studies suggest that training carers or family members about aphasia and how to approve communication can benefit people with aphasia.

Recently, more robust randomised studies with health professionals, students and volunteers have also shown benefits from training them to use supportive communication strategies. The training benefits both the people with aphasia and the communication partners, increasing their knowledge, attitudes and confidence, and use of the communication strategies.

Our Living Stroke Guidelines’ Content Working Group assessed these recent studies, which led to two new recommendations approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) on 6 December 2022.

The recommendations add to the aphasia treatment guidelines approved in August this year, which strongly recommended speech and language therapy for aphasia.

Meanwhile, a small change has also been made to a recommendation for structured continence management plans. This change was based on an updated systematic review, which narrowed the application of the practice to those in hospital with stroke who have confirmed continence difficulties.

An example of a structured continence management plan, and practical advice for using it in assessment and treatment, can be found in our e-learning course on Urinary continence and stroke.

See all Living guidelines updates.