The effects of COVID-19 on the rehabilitation of persons with aphasia: A scoping review.
Khetsiwe P Masuku, Gift Khumalo, Nontokozo Shabangu
PMID 36073071WHAT IT FOUND
Lockdowns and social distancing disrupted aphasia rehabilitation, reducing therapy sessions and isolating patients from support groups.
Telehealth increased access but failed for many due to motor difficulties, cognitive issues, and clinicians' lack of online training. Caregivers faced overwhelmed roles and mental health strain.
Key findings
01Rehabilitation progress was compromised by lockdown restrictions, reduced session numbers, and the suspension of group therapies.
02Telehealth was the preferred alternative but presented challenges including patients' physical limitations, clinicians' lack of online skills, and social isolation.
03Caregivers were often excluded from hospital visits or required to join remotely, leading to multiple roles, overwhelm, and mental health strain.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review included only seven studies, most of which were opinion papers or position statements rather than empirical research. There is a scarcity of literature from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and Africa, despite high stroke prevalence there. The search strategy for Google Scholar was limited to the first 100 hits, which may have missed relevant studies. The included studies varied widely in design and quality, ranging from single case reports to mixed-methods surveys.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study received ethical clearance from the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume telehealth is a universally effective substitute for face-to-face aphasia therapy. The review explicitly states that online therapy was not always successful due to patients' physical and cognitive limitations and clinicians' lack of digital skills.