Novel Approaches to Intervention in Aphasia

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cognition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2025) | Viewed by 1263

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Language & Cognition, Division of Psychology & Language Sciences, University College London, London WC1N 1PF, UK
Interests: language intervention for aphasia; auditory processing in aphasia; numerical cognition in aphasia; connected speech production

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder resulting from damage to the left cerebral hemisphere, most often due to stroke. It is widely recognised that speech and language therapy can lead to gains in language function, particularly when therapy is intensive and individualized. However, while they are beneficial, current therapies often produce slow and limited progress, particularly for individuals with severe or chronic aphasia. Furthermore, as the global population ages and the incidence of stroke increases, there has never been a greater demand for effective aphasia treatments. Research into novel approaches to language intervention is therefore crucial to meet this rising need and to ensure that all individuals with aphasia have the best possible chance for recovery and improved communication abilities.

For example, practical restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic provided greater opportunities to explore novel approaches to intervention, such as developing telehealth modalities for remote delivery. Advances in technology (e.g., therapies that are offered via mobile apps) offer new opportunities to enhance treatment outcomes. In addition, interventions which have been demonstrated to be effective with other client groups (e.g., children with language disorders) may provide useful tools for work in aphasia. Many approaches to intervention such as these show promise and are adopted clinically but for which an evidence base is required.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collate evidence-based studies exploring novel approaches to language intervention which improve outcomes for people with aphasia. We welcome submissions of original research articles, case studies, clinical trials and review papers that contribute to our understanding of what works.

Dr. Caroline Newton
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • aphasia treatment
  • aphasia intervention
  • language rehabilitation
  • acquired language disorder

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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13 pages, 438 KB  
Systematic Review
Assessment of Language Impairments Towards Identifying Markers for Early Diagnosis of Pathological Cognitive Decline
by Claudia Espinoza and Diana Martella
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(3), 345; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16030345 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 568
Abstract
A major challenge in research on cognitive decline and dementia is the identification of at-risk populations in the preclinical phase. In this context, there is growing interest in language markers as early indicators of cognitive impairment. Objectives: This study aims to identify early [...] Read more.
A major challenge in research on cognitive decline and dementia is the identification of at-risk populations in the preclinical phase. In this context, there is growing interest in language markers as early indicators of cognitive impairment. Objectives: This study aims to identify early linguistic markers that may facilitate the detection of individuals at risk of cognitive decline and dementia during the preclinical stage. Additionally, it seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of various assessment techniques and instruments for detecting such language impairments. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, encompassing studies published between 2014 and 2025. A total of 109 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis. Results: The findings indicate that syntactic–structural features—particularly complexity, discourse coherence, and global organization—together with acoustic parameters such as pause duration, exhibit a higher accuracy and predictive value for the early diagnosis of cognitive decline and its progression to dementia. Furthermore, narrative-based tasks analyzed through automated methods demonstrate significant advantages for the assessment of language impairments. Conclusions: The analysis of language markers—particularly through the examination of syntactic complexity, acoustic features, and automated narrative assessments—represents a promising and effective approach for the early identification of cognitive impairment and the prediction of subsequent dementia onset. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches to Intervention in Aphasia)
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