A scoping review on aphasia and technology: exploring mechanisms enhancing quality of life

People with aphasia are at an increased risk for reduced quality of life (QoL) because of their change in communication abilities (Lancioni et al. in Curr Dev Disord Rep 6:126–130, 2019). The present study aims to review the current evidence supporting assistive technology as a tool to improve QoL for people with aphasia, while investigating the various mechanisms technology may impact that lead to increased QoL for people with aphasia. The primary aim is to investigate the underlying mechanisms impacted by assistive technology that may improve QoL for people with aphasia.

We conducted a scoping review using Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, and PsycINFO databases to identify relevant studies on assistive technology and QoL for people with aphasia, screening a total of 103 articles for inclusion.

A total of 25 articles fit inclusion criteria for the scoping review following initial and secondary screenings. Evidence from past studies suggests self-management, social interaction and virtual communication as mechanisms enhanced by technology potentially leading to improved QoL outcomes for people with aphasia.

This review emphasizes the role mechanisms such as self-management, social interaction, and virtual communication play in improving QoL for people with aphasia, while emphasizing the role technology plays in impacting the function of these mechanisms. In turn, the literature supports assistive technology as a tool to improve QoL for people with aphasia. However, for this assistive technology to be impactful, it must be person centered and thoroughly trained based on the current body of evidence.