Background
In
recent years, innovative interactive technologies, such as virtual
reality, have emerged as a valuable approach in the rehabilitation of
aphasia. Indeed, they offer the opportunity to practice activities that
are not or cannot be usually carried out within the clinical
environment, and that are aimed at increasing cognitive and motor
domains.
Aims
The
aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and the long-term
effects of the BTS-Nirvana, a rehabilitative device that uses
semi-immersive virtual reality in the treatment of chronic post-stroke
aphasia.
Methods and Procedures
Thirty
patients with non-fluent aphasia due to first ever ischemic stroke
(mean ± SD age: 51.2 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in this study and
randomized into either a control group (n = 15) undergoing conventional speech and cognitive training or an experimental group (n = 15) receiving the same amount of training using BTS-Nirvana.
Outcomes and Results
The
“Esame Neuropsicologico per l’Afasia” (ENPA) subtests (repetition,
reading, naming, writing, and calculation) and the Token test were the
main outcome measures. After the training (T1), the experimental group
achieved a greater improvement in Token test, reading, naming, and
calculation than the control group. Notably, these positive outcomes
were maintained at the 6-month follow-up (T2).
Conclusions
These
results support previous findings that virtual reality can be
considered a useful complementary treatment to potentiate functional
recovery of speech ability in patients affected by post-stroke aphasia.
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