The current view of the assessment and therapy of aphasia

Aphasia is an acquired disorder of language production and comprehension caused by focal cerebral lesions and often presents itself as the first sign of a brain damage. The aim of this article is to summarize a current view of aphasia as a complex and variable neurological deficit, Currently, the cognitive neuropsychological approach is prevailing in modern clinical aphasiology and, therefore, this approach is discussed in more details. Besides the traditional view in aphasiology, the cognitive neuropsychological approach has been more and more stressed among clinicians working with patients suffering from aphasia in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. A summary of different diagnostic methods used in the aphasia assessment is presented in this paper. A brief review of studies on efficacy of the aphasia therapy is followed by information on the treatment strategies employed for persons with aphasia. This review can be instrumental in improving the communication between different professionals participating in assessment and intervention of individuals suffering from aphasia.