Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41649763›Full record

ArticleNeurology and therapy2026

"Not That I've Become Exceptional, But I'm Able to Make Myself Understood Better": Impact of Speech and Language Therapy on Everyday Communication in People with Primary Progressive Aphasia and Their Carers.

Cinzia Palmirotta, Gaia C Santi, Simona Aresta, Roberta Tomasoni, Allegra Benzini, Giuliana Leccese, Paola Santacesaria, Serena Tagliente, Maura Cosseddu, Federica Biddau and 6 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Cinzia PalmirottaLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-1967-3009
Gaia C SantiLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy. gaia.santi@icsmaugeri.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9253-6122
Simona ArestaLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9032-6578
Roberta TomasoniLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.
Allegra BenziniLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.
Giuliana LecceseLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.
Paola SantacesariaLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-8591-4996
Serena TaglienteLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-9489-6032
Maura CossedduNeurology Unit, Department of Continuity of Care and Frailty, ASST Spedali Civili Brescia Hospital, Brescia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3718-9153
Federica BiddauRegional Brain Aging Center, University Hospital of Padua, Piazza de Claricini, Selvazzano Dentro, Padua, Italy.
Alessandro IntronaDipartimento di Scienze Mediche di base, Neuroscienze e organi di senso, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3141-6442
Rosa CapozzoUO Neurologia, Ospedale Di Venere, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7672-8669
Stefania TaglienteUOC Neurologia, Ospedale Generale Regionale "F. Miulli", Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy.
Alessandro PadovaniNeurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0119-3639
Pietro FioreNeurorehabilitation Unit, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5621-2393
Petronilla BattistaLaboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Bari, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3120-1214

Funding

Alzheimer's Association GBHI ALZ UK-22-866347Ministero della Salute PNRR-MCNT2-2023-12378220
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPrimary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by progressive speech and language impairments that impact communication, independence, and psychosocial well-being. People with PPA (PwPPA) and their carers face communication difficulties that lead to social withdrawal. Speech and language therapy (SLT) offers non-pharmacological strategies to support communication, yet evidence regarding its perceived impact on daily life remains limited. This study explored the experiences of PwPPA and their carers following SLT, focusing on perceived changes in communication abilities, confidence, and psychosocial well-being.

methodsPwPPA participated in a 5-week, tailored telerehabilitation program (Lexical Retrieval Cascade Treatment for logopenic PPA/semantic PPA; Video-Implemented Script Training for nonfluent/agrammatic PPA). Post-treatment questionnaires were developed to collect the opinions of PwPPA and their carers regarding the SLT. The questionnaires included 22 closed-ended Likert-scale items and two open-ended questions for each group. Quantitative data were analyzed for frequency and consistency between PwPPA and carers, while qualitative responses underwent reflexive thematic analysis. Twenty-five PwPPA and 24 carers completed the questionnaires.

resultsQuantitative findings showed consistent perceptions between PwPPA and carers, with approximately 30% reporting improvements in communication confidence, speaking ability, and stress. Thematic analysis revealed four shared themes: reduction in negative emotions/increased self-efficacy, proactivity, acquisition of compensatory strategies, and the importance of the treatment setting and patient-clinician relationship. Additional themes included enhanced communicative effectiveness for PwPPA and increased awareness and improved interpersonal relationships for carers. Participants emphasized the benefits of individualized, supportive therapy delivered in a comfortable environment, including via telerehabilitation.

conclusionOur study highlights the positive influence of SLT on both communication and psychosocial outcomes in PwPPA and their carers. Integrating subjective experiences with quantitative measures underscores the importance of person-centered, holistic interventions that address linguistic, emotional, and social dimensions, supporting everyday communication and quality of life.

Indexed as

CarersCommunicationDementiaMixed methodsParticipationQuestionnaire

Identifiers

PMID41649763
PMCPMC12965939

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.