Speech-language pathology ·
Aphasia trial favors massed script training; inpatient rehabilitation therapy rule takes effect; peer support trial finds no group difference
THE SHORT READ
Massed practice outperformed distributed practice in a randomized trial of computer-based script training for 85 people with chronic poststroke aphasia, published Oct. 1 in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. A Medicare rule requiring inpatient rehabilitation facilities to start all therapies within 36 hours of admission took effect Oct. 1, and a randomized trial of online peer support for 46 school-based speech-language pathologists found no significant posttest difference between groups.
THE DETAILS
- Research Oct 1, 2026A single-site, single-blind, factorial randomized trial published Oct. 1 in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research enrolled 85 people with chronic poststroke aphasia for 10 one-hour sessions of computer-based script training. Massed practice performed significantly better than distributed practice, while stimulus repetition (long versus short scripts) made no significant difference, the authors reported. The primary outcome was performance on the trained script in a simulated conversation with a familiar speech-language pathologist. In factor interactions, long scripts improved more with distributed than massed practice, and short scripts were better maintained than long scripts at six weeks.
- Payment Oct 1, 2026Under the fiscal 2027 inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) payment rule, which took effect Oct. 1, all therapy treatments and/or therapy evaluations must begin no later than 36 hours from midnight on the day of admission. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said the revision specifies that all, not just some, therapies must start within that window. The rule also requires the initial interdisciplinary team meeting by the fourth day of admission, with later meetings weekly, defined as seven days from the initial meeting. CMS finalized a 2.3% IRF payment update.Sources: Federal Register, CMS
- Research Sept 30, 2026In a randomized trial published Sept. 30 in Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 46 school-based speech-language pathologists were assigned to immediate or delayed participation in weekly online peer support group sessions for six weeks. Mean total stress scores fell significantly from baseline to postintervention and rose slightly at delayed postintervention, and emotional exhaustion scores differed significantly between time points, the authors reported. The data did not show significant posttest differences between the treatment and delayed treatment groups.
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