Table 2.
Virtual Reality studies in aphasia recovery. Abbreviation: * RCT: randomized controlled trial; CS: case series; RGSa: Rehabilitation Gaming System for aphasia Interaction; VRRS-Tablet: Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System; RGS Rehabilitation Gaming System; VR: virtual reality.
| Articles * | Study Design | Patients | Task | Technology | Dose/Intensity | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giachero et al., 2020 [119] | RTC | 36 chronic * | Conversational Training Therapy (CTT) | VR (NeuroVR 2.0) |
Two-hour therapy session, twice a week for 24 weeks. | VR improved oral comprehension, repetition, written language, self-esteem, and emotional state |
| Marshall et al., 2020 [120] | RTC | 34 aphasics | Group Therapy | VR (EVA Park) |
Twenty-one hours therapy session for six months; sessions occurring once in a fortnight. | No significant improvement in wellbeing, communicative success |
| Grechuta et al., 2019 [110] | RTC | 17 chronic | Intensive Language-Action Therapy (ILAT) | RGSa | Five half-hour therapy session for eight weeks. | Improvement in speech production, auditory comprehension, communicative effectiveness in everyday life, and lexical access |
| Maresca et al., 2019 [121] | RTC | 30 subacute | Naming, composition, writing and rewriting | VRRS-Tablet | Five fifty-minutes sessions for two weeks. | VRRS-Tablet Significant improved comprehension, repetition, reading, calculation, competence, adaptability, and self-esteem |
| Marshall et al., 2018 [122] | CS | 2 chronic | Noun retrieval and Verb Network Strengthening | VR (EVA Park) |
Twenty- one-hour therapy session over five weeks. | VR improved noun retrieval |
| Carragher et al., 2018 [123] | CS | 3 chronic | Storytelling | VR (EVA Park) |
Twenty one-hour therapy session over five weeks. | VR improved storytelling |
| Grechuta et al., 2017 [124] | Longitudinal trial | 4 chronic | Sensorimotor speech therapy | RGS | Five forty- minutes therapy session over eight weeks. | RGS improved word retrieval and verb execution |
| Marshall et al., 2016 [113] | quasi-RTC | 20 chronic | Free communication | VR (EVA Park) |
Twenty-five one-hour therapy session over five weeks. | VR improved functional communication |
* Acute (<four weeks post-onset); Sub-Acute (>four weeks post-onset); Chronic (>one year post-onset).