Intense language training has been found to be more efficient in the
rehabilitation of chronic aphasia than treatment spread across time.
Intense treatment, however, challenges personnel and financial resources
of the health care system. The present study examined, whether laypersons
can be trained to apply standardized language training for chronic aphasia
with effects comparable to training by experts. Twenty individuals with
chronic aphasia participated in the training, Constraint-Induced Aphasia
Therapy (CIAT), which comprises communicative language games with
increasing level of difficulty in a motivating context for 3 hr/day on
10 consecutive days. Following a random-control design, training was
applied either by experienced therapists (n = 10) or trained
laypersons (n = 10). Standardized language assessments revealed
significant within-group improvements, however, between-group differences
were not present. We conclude that a standardized training program, such
as CIAT, can be efficiently accomplished by trained laypersons with
results comparable to that of experienced therapists. (JINS,
2007, 13, 846–853.)