Clinical outcomes associated with speech, language and swallowing difficulties post-stroke

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of prospective research in South Africa’s speech therapy private sector, specifically, in the acute stroke population. There is a need to understand the quality of speech therapy services and outcomes post-stroke in the private sector. OBJECTIVES: This prospective cohort study investigated associations between speech, language, and swallowing conditions (i.e. dysarthria, apraxia of speech, aphasia, dysphagia), and outcomes post-stroke (i.e. length of hospital stay [LOS], degree of physical disability according to the Modified Rankin Scale [mRS], functional level of oral intake according to the Functional Oral Intake Scale [FOIS], dehydration, weight loss, aspiration pneumonia, mortality). METHOD: A prospective design was used to determine the incidence of speech, language, and swallowing conditions post-stroke. Convenience sampling was used to select participants (N = 68). Various statistical tests were used and the alpha level was set at Bonferroni correction p < 0.01. RESULTS: Co-occurring speech, language, and swallowing conditions frequently occurred post-stroke (88%). Participants who were referred to speech therapy later than 24 h post-admission (52.94%) stayed in hospital for a median of 3 days longer than those who were referred within 24 h (p = 0.042). Dysphagia was significantly associated with moderate to severe physical disability (p < 0.01). Dysphagia with aspiration was significantly associated with poor functional level of oral intake, at admission and at discharge (p < 0.01). At discharge, aspiration pneumonia was significantly associated with severe physical disability (p < 0.01, r = 0.70). CONCLUSION: In South Africa’s private sector, co-occurring speech, language, and swallowing conditions commonly occurred post-stroke, and dysphagia was strongly associated with physical disability and poor functional level of oral intake. Length of hospital stay was increased by delayed speech therapy referrals. CONTRIBUTION: This article contributes data on speech therapy services, communication and swallowing disorders post-stroke, and outcomes in South Africa’s private sector.