Background. Intensive aphasia therapy can improve language functions in chronic aphasia over a short therapy interval of 2–4 weeks. For one intensive method, intensive language–action therapy, beneficial effects are well documented by a range of randomized controlled trials. However, it is unclear to date whether therapy-related improvements are maintained over years. Objective. The current study aimed at investigating long-term stability of ILAT treatment effects over circa 1–2 years (8–30 months). Methods. 38 patients with chronic aphasia participated in ILAT and were re-assessed at a follow-up assessment 8–30 months after treatment, which had been delivered 6–12.5 hours per week for 2–4 weeks. Results. A standardized clinical aphasia battery, the Aachen Aphasia Test, revealed significant improvements with ILAT that were maintained for up to 2.5 years. Improvements were relatively better preserved in comparatively young patients (<60 years). Measures of communicative efficacy confirmed improvements during intensive therapy but showed inconsistent long-term stability effects. Conclusions. The present data indicate that gains resulting from intensive speech–language therapy with ILAT are maintained up to 2.5 years after the end of treatment. We discuss this novel finding in light of a possible move from sparse to intensive therapy regimes in clinical practice.

背景。强化失语症治疗可以在 2-4 周的较短治疗间隔内改善慢性失语症的语言功能。对于一种强化方法，即强化语言-行动疗法，一系列随机对照试验充分证明了其有益效果。然而，迄今为止尚不清楚治疗相关的改善是否能持续多年。客观的。目前的研究旨在调查 ILAT 治疗效果在大约 1-2 年（8-30 个月）内的长期稳定性。方法。 38 名慢性失语症患者参加了 ILAT，并在治疗后 8-30 个月的随访评估中进行了重新评估，每周进行 6-12.5 小时，持续 2-4 周。结果。标准化临床失语症测试，即亚琛失语症测试，显示 ILAT 显着改善，且可维持长达 2.5 年。在相对年轻的患者中，改善效果相对较好地得以保留（<60 id=121>结论）。目前的数据表明，ILAT 强化言语语言治疗所带来的效果在治疗结束后可维持长达 2.5 年。我们讨论这一新发现鉴于临床实践中可能从稀疏治疗方案转向强化治疗方案。