Communication Support and Training for Families Affected by Aphasia: A National Survey Exploring Perspectives of Professionals

BACKGROUND: Aphasia affects both the individuals and their families, impacting communication, social connectedness, roles and mental health. The focus in neurorehabilitation often remains on the individual, yet research suggests that addressing the family as a system would be beneficial. It remains unknown to what extent this is translated into clinical practice. AIMS: To explore professionals' perspectives on communication support and training addressing the needs of families living with aphasia across disciplines, positions and stages of neurorehabilitation in Denmark. METHODS & PROCEDURES: An online survey with 21 items was developed and distributed via clinical networks and social media. The survey focused on characteristics of current services, perceived needs, barriers and facilitators related to communication support and training. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were applied. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: A total of 285 professionals from different professions and positions completed the survey. The majority of respondents reported that their institution provided communication support and training for individuals living with aphasia and/or their relatives, but often inadequately and several unmet needs were highlighted. The need for a more systematic, flexible, tailored and outreached approach to communication training to address the multi-faceted and evolving needs of families living with aphasia was highlighted. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: The results highlight the importance of supporting and training professionals in addressing the needs of families living with aphasia throughout the course of rehabilitation and life with aphasia. This highlights the necessity of developing and providing more flexible and tailored interventions directed at these families in order to achieve genuine and sustainable changes. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject Aphasia impacts both the individual and their families, whose rehabilitation needs are complex and evolving over time. Family-focused interventions such as communication partner training (CPT) are recognised as beneficial yet remain inconsistently implemented and rarely embedded in routine clinical services. What this paper adds to existing knowledge This study provides insight into professionals' experiences with CPT and informational support. It reveals that while such services are often offered, they are rarely sufficient in term of timing, content and consistency. It identifies barriers to implementation, including organisational fragmentation, lack of structured training and limited interdisciplinary coordination. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The findings emphasise the importance of recognising the family as a unit of care in aphasia rehabilitation. To meet complex and evolving needs, rehabilitation should be tailored, repeated, outreached and flexible. Sustainable implementation of CPT requires organisational commitment and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that support is both accessible and responsive.