Primary Care of Adult Patients After Stroke: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
Stroke
Kernan, W. N., Viera, A. J., et al. (2021).
Stroke, 52(9), e558-e571.
This guideline outlines recommendations for primary care teams regarding poststroke care. The primary audience for this guideline is primary care doctors, however it makes specific recommendations for pursuing speech-language pathology services.
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
American Academy of Neurology
<div>Management of stroke rehabilitation should include:</div>
<ul>
<li>Speech therapy (Class I Evidence)</li>
<li>Communication devices (Class I Evidence)</li>
<li>Enriched environments for cognitive needs (Class I Evidence)</li>
<li>Hearing amplification and training (Class I Evidence)</li>
<li>Inclusion of caregivers in training and education related to home therapy (Class II Evidence)</li>
<li>Cognitive rehabilitation (Class II Evidence)</li>
<li>Adaptive treatment for neglect (Class II Evidence)</li>
<li>Mental practice (Class II Evidence)</li>
<li>Virtual reality (Class II Evidence)</li>
<li>Alternative communication methods (Class II Evidence)</li>
<li>Self-management skills (Class II Evidence)</li>
<li>Vocationally targeted therapy (Class II Evidence).</li>
</ul>
<div>For individuals status post stroke, primary care teams should screen for and ask patients, families, and/or care partners about unmet needs regarding cognitive impairment, communication difficulty, dysphagia, return to work, independence, and fatigue, with referral to speech-language pathology (SLP) evaluation as needed. SLP evaluation may include evaluation of cognition, communication, visual neglect, swallowing, and sensory and hearing impairment (Class I & II Evidence)</div>
