Quality of life in aphasia in the first post-stroke year

The term quality of life (QOL) is used by both scientists and lay persons and is defined in many different ways. One of the major challenges in measuring QOL results from the fact that it is a latent trait not subject to direct observation or countable phenomena. Specific attention to QOL in the stroke survivor has been rare. This paper reviews the literature, identities some of the issues, and reports a study of QOL in 59 consecutively admitted post-stroke aphasic patients who were treated in a comprehensive rehabilitation medicine programme and followed from three to twelve months post onset. The results suggest that improved QOL in aphasic persons of all types in the first poststroke year relates to the intensity and duration of aphasia rehabilitation services which addresses language, communication strategies, copying skills, and psychosocial issues.