Efficacy of aphasia treatment using microcomputers

Microcomputers and treatment programs are discussed with respect to aphasia rehabilitation. The microcomputer is described as a powerful clinical tool that can administer treatment activities designed by a clinician or programmer and measure patient performance on tasks. Sophisticated programs can modify tasks and provide appropriate cues in response to the performance of patients. A computer, however, is only as good as its software. Treatment programs are limited less by hardware than by the lack of familiarity and technical knowledge of clinicians and researchers with microcomputers and programs. Evaluative procedures should not be by-passed in the rush to develop treatment software. Recently reported group and single-case design studies are described that investigate the efficacy of various computerized treatment programs. Recommendations are made for future development and evaluation of treatment programs.