#WESTERN APHASIA BATTERY OVERVIEW SERIAL#

Lesion volume was estimated in cubic centimeters: lesion volume=×/2, a reasonably reliable method compared with automated methods. To determine whether initial aphasia severity predicts change in aphasia scores (achieved ΔWAB=) and whether the relation is proportional, we performed a regression analysis of aphasia recovery (achieved ΔWAB) with WAB initial, age, and lesion volume as independent variables and the change score as the dependent variable. Initial impairment (WAB initial) was defined as a composite score ≤28.

8 Each of the 3 spheres of function yielded a possible score of 10, with a composite perfect score of 30 (WAB max). 6 The aphasia examination, derived from standardized subtests from the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), 7 consisted of the evaluation of comprehension (“yes/no questions,” “auditory word recognition,” “sequential commands”), repetition, and naming (“object naming,” “word fluency,” “responsive speech”) and were chosen because of their high respective intraindividual reliabilities of 88%, 97%, and 92%.

Initial assessment occurred 24 to 72 hours after stroke onset (mean=2.1 days SD=1.3) the follow-up examination took place at 90 days (mean=93.1 days SD=18.8) after the qualifying stroke because it was thought that most spontaneous recovery occurs by this point. Individuals with severe comprehension deficits were considered unable to provide consent and could not be enrolled. 4,5 Between May 2002 and August 2007, eligible patients screened from the adult, inpatient stroke service as having a new clinical deficit in language, motor, and/or visual spatial function signed an institutional review board-approved informed consent.

#WESTERN APHASIA BATTERY OVERVIEW SERIAL#

We used the Performance and Recovery in Stroke (PARIS) database of patients with image-verified, first-time ischemic strokes who underwent serial assessment with impairment measures for hemiparesis, aphasia, and visual neglect. The comparability of recovery from motor and language impairment suggests that common mechanisms may govern reduction of poststroke neurologic impairment across different functional domains and that they could be the focus of therapeutic intervention. Results- Regression analysis demonstrated that WAB initial was highly correlated with ΔWAB ( R 2=0.81, P<0.001) and that, in addition, the relation between WAB initial and ΔWAB was proportional, such that patients recovered 0.73 of maximal potential recovery (WAB maximum−WAB initial).Ĭonclusions- We show that, like motor recovery, there is a highly predictable relation between aphasia recovery and initial impairment, which is also proportional in nature. The relation between actual change (Δ) scores (defined as WAB 3 mo− WAB initial) and WAB initial was calculated in multiple-regression analysis. Methods- Twenty-one stroke patients had aphasia scores on the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) obtained on stroke admission (WAB initial) and at 90 days (WAB 3 mo). We wanted to determine whether aphasia recovery (defined as a change from baseline to 90 days) shows a comparably strong correlation and whether the relation was similar to that in motor recovery. Recently, we reported a strong correlation between initial impairment and change scores in motor recovery at 90 days. Customer Service and Ordering Informationīackground and Purpose- Most improvement from poststroke aphasia occurs within the first 3 months, but there remains unexplained variability in recovery.Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology.Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA).Circ: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes.Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB).

Western aphasia battery overview