In this presentation we delve into communication changes after minor stroke, with a focus on language. Increasing international evidence suggests that people with minor stroke can experience an array of post-stroke impairments that can lead to substantial life disruptions; however, there has been a paucity of research into communication changes in this patient population. Our presentation objective is to provide a concise overview of our research project into communication changes following minor stroke, including objectives, methods, findings and their implications, to provide greater guidance for clinicians and researchers in this area.

The aim of our study was to assess the communication skills of fourteen people with minor stroke one week (T1) and three months (T2) post-stroke to gain an understanding of their communication recovery. We used a convergent parallel mixed methods design involving the concurrent collection of quantitative and qualitative data. Participants completed a battery of measures (Western Aphasia Battery-Revised, Boston Naming Test, La Trobe Communication Questionnaire, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale), along with a semi-structured interview and conversation sample one week (T1) and three months (T2) post-stroke. Our study found that a subset of people with minor stroke experience communication difficulties that persist 3 months post-stroke. We also found a partial disconnect between formal assessment results and self-report, highlighting the importance of exploring multiple communication domains when assessing people with minor stroke, especially when communication difficulties are self-reported.

In conclusion, our study raises important clinical implications for speech pathologists working with people with minor stroke along with directions for future research. These implications will be discussed in more detail during the presentation.

1. An understanding of the nature of communication changes that people can experience in the first three month following minor stroke
2. Understanding of the impact of communication difficulties on the everyday lives of people with minor stroke
3. Practical tips for managing people with minor stroke