Abstract
Fifty-five chronic aphasic patients were investigated as to their “adaptation” . The subjects included 23 Wernicke's aphasics, 17 Broca's aphasics, and 15 anomics. The study focussed on how aphasic patients cope, that is, behavior directed at the resolution of a problematic situation.
The results were as follows :
1) There was no distinct relationship between the SLTA score and the CADL score and “favorable” adaptation.
2) There were at least four factors which were characteristic of “favorable” adaptation : subjective understanding of one's situation, premorbid personality, support given by families, and change in character due to brain damage.
3) In the group of patients who understood their situation subjectively, the most important factor in these patients's “favorable” adaptation was their cyclothymic personality.
4) On the other hand, in the group of patients whose subjective understanding of their own conditions was not sufficient, the most important factors behind a “favorable” adaptation were the full support given by their families and character changes due to brain damage. Though change in character is generally considered a negative factor, it can have a positive effect at times.
It was suggested that when we think about adaptation, speech therapists must take into consideration not only language function, but also factors such as subjective understanding of one's situation, family support, character change due to brain damage and premorbid personality.
