Behavioral Treatment for Speech and Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia and Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech: A Systematic Review
Neuropsychology Review
Wauters, L. D., Croot, K., et al. (2023).
Neuropsychology Review, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-023-09607-1.
This systematic review investigates the immediate, maintained, and generalized effects of behavioral treatments on speech and language outcomes for individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) or primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS). Of note, no studies investigating PPAOS were located.
From database inception to May 31, 2021
Published, peer-reviewed studies of any design
103
<div>The following findings were reported regarding behavioral interventions targeting speech and language outcomes (e.g., naming, semantic knowledge, syntax, fluency, functional communication) in individuals with PPA:</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Within higher quality studies, behavioral interventions were associated with improvements for at least one participant in 100% (43 of 43) of studies, with generalization of skills in 75.6% (31 of 41) of studies, and with maintenance of skills in 91.7% (33 of 36) of studies (Level 2a & 2b Evidence). </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Within higher quality single-subject design studies, a positive result on at least one primary outcome measure was reported for 94.6% (53 of 56) of individuals, with generalization noted in 62.3% (33 of 53) of participants, and maintenance reported in 84.8% (46 of 53) of participants (Level 2a & 2b Evidence).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Mixed results were reported regarding the impact of behavioral interventions on speech production in individuals with PPA and co-morbid apraxia of speech (Level 2a, 2b, & 3 Evidence).</span></li>
</ul>
<div><span style="color: #333333;">Of note, while results were reported for a large number of participants across many studies, sample sizes were generally small and the majority of studies had single subject designs. Additional randomized and controlled research is indicated. </span></div>
<div>This review did not locate any studies that investigated behavioral interventions for individuals with PPAOS.</div>
