The clinical view on the prognostic factors of aphasia

Abstract

Objective: To identify how prognostic factors have been approached and their implications on the theoretical and methodological foundations that underlie the clinical reasoning regarding prognosis in the field of aphasiology. Method: A literature review was conducted in the databases SciELO, PubMed and Periódicos CAPES, using the keywords “aphasia”, “prognosis” and “factors”, as well as their correspondent Portuguese keywords. All articles that related the prognosis of aphasia to a variable (factor), published between 2005 and 2015, in Portuguese, English or French were considered. Results: Fifteen articles were selected, from which 29 prognostic factors were identified. The most frequently mentioned of these factors were age, extent and location of lesion, gender and schooling. However, age, sex and education were not considered significant to predict the prognosis, in most articles. Discussion: In general, researches involving prognostic factors related to aphasia are analyzed under an organicist perspective, which leads to homogenization of patients and symptomatic manifestations of language, disregarding subjective and social aspects in favor of organic aspects. This is due to a specific conception of healing and therapeutic success, reflecting in the choice of research methodology. Conclusion: It is necessary to study subjective and social aspects through a clinical view that focuses the plurality of symptoms. For this purpose, a qualitative research method would be more appropriate