The Effectiveness of Action Observation Therapy Based on Mirror Neuron Theory in Chinese Patients with Apraxia of Speech after Stroke.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- You, Li; Wang, Yao; Chen, Wenli; Zhang, Sicong; Rao, Jiang; Liu, Li; Shan, Chunlei
- Source
- European Neurology. 2019, Vol. 81 Issue 5/6, p278-286. 9p. 3 Charts, 4 Graphs.
- Subject
- *SPEECH apraxia
*MIRROR neurons
*STROKE
*EXPERIMENTAL groups
*RESEARCH institutes
- Language
- ISSN
- 0014-3022
Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of action observation therapy (AOT) on apraxia of speech (AOS) in patients after stroke. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients diagnosed with AOS after stroke were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 21) and a control group (n = 21). Both groups received 30 min of conventional language therapy twice daily, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The patients in the experimental group additionally received 20 min of AOT before 10 min language therapy each day. The speech function and aphasia severity of the 2 groups were assessed using the speech apraxia assessment method of the China Rehabilitation Research Center, Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), and the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination before and after treatment. Results: AOS and WAB scores increased significantly after treatment in both groups (p < 0.05). AOS and WAB scores exhibited significant differences between the experimental group and the control group after training (p < 0.05). The response rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: AOT based on mirror neuron theory may improve language function in patients with AOS after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]