The University of Queensland is now expanding its aphasia therapy programme to reach more patients living in rural and regional areas.

A year since it was launched at Metro North Health’s Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service in Brisbane, the Comprehensive High-Dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) programme will be tried out in seven hospitals and health service sites in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. 

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

WHY IT MATTERS

According to Professor David Copland, director of UQ's Queensland Aphasia Research Centre, they are expanding the CHAT programme to help deliver the best and most appropriate therapy for many aphasia patients in Australia. At present, over 140,000 Australians are dealing with aphasia, a language disorder that affects how a person communicates following a stroke or head injury.

"Our clinicians and researchers will assess the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the CHAT program across multiple health settings and compare it with aphasia care currently being provided," Prof Copland added.

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