Hospital bedside language assessment in post stroke patients

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is considered one of the principal causes of death or functional disability. Language disorders are among the possible symptoms that can result from a stroke. Therefore, it is important to include language in speech and language pathology hospital bedside assessment. Objective: To draw a profile of hospitalized patients after the stroke and to identify their language disorders Method: 11 patients hospitalized after stroke, with adequate level of consciousness to perform the language evaluation, were assessed by a semi-structured interview. Results: A higher incidence of Ischemic Cerebral Vascular Accident was found. Stroke was more frequent between 40 to 49 years, when there were no differences regarding gender. Language assessment pointed to different impairments: a) the verbal and mixed language (sign and verbal) happened in the same proportion; b) in most of the cases, language comprehension was preserved, as well as the maintenance of the discursive topic in the dialogue; c) 4 patients did not manage to introduce new discursive topic, 6 managed to form complete sentences and 9 presented phonoarticulatory and/or vocal alterations. Conclusion: Script application still in hospital bedside made possible to identify the main language disorders, to support the speech therapist guidelines to family members and health professionals who treat the patient in the hospital. To assess the language in the hospital bedside is essential to ratify the report of hospital discharge and to direct, when necessary, the patients to start the rehabilitation at the appropriate moment.