Prognostic factors for return to work in stroke patients with aphasia

Abstract

Few studies with stroke patients seem to have addressed the extent to which aphasia is a factor preventing gainful employment. One study showed that patients with aphasia after stroke returned to work only half as often as those with dysarthria or with unimpaired speech function (Howard et al. 1985). The patient's perception of the total hanhcap was found to be more predictive of returning to work than the level of speech. Furthermore, Zangwill (Lebrun and Hoops 1974) has noted that the vocational rehabilitation of manual workers is often easier, although aphasics can perform mental work.