University of Queensland Aphasia Program Goes Online

The University of Queensland is currently expanding its aphasia therapy program to include more patients living in rural and regional areas.

One year after its launch at Metro North Health’s Surgery and Rehabilitation Service in Brisbane, the High Dose Comprehensive Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) program will be piloted at seven hospitals and health care facilities in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

Its online version, TeleCHAT, will also be available as an option for people at home. Delivered via video conferencing software, TeleCHAT is currently being researched for its usability, feasibility and acceptability. UQ shared that based on early results, the online program has “significantly” increased access to aphasia therapy for residents in rural and regional areas.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT

According to Professor David Copland, Director of UQ’s Queensland Aphasia Research Centre, they are expanding the CHAT program to help provide the best and most appropriate therapy for many of Australia’s aphasia patients. Over 140,000 Australians are currently dealing with aphasia, a speech disorder that affects how a person communicates after a stroke or head injury.

“Our clinicians and researchers will evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the CHAT program in various healthcare settings and compare it to current aphasia treatments,” added Professor Copeland.

The CHAT program is supported by a AU$1 million (US$650,000) grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council. It includes 50 hours of intensive care provided over eight weeks by speech therapists with the support of aphasia researchers.