The Incidence of Aphasia, Dysarthria and Dysphagia Following Stroke
The Incidence of Aphasia, Dysarthria and Dysphagia Following Stroke
The objective of the study is to estimate the incidence and recovery of aphasia, dysarthria
 and dysphagia in an acute setting (first week) with the NIHSS sub-item scores for language
 and speech and a dysphagia screening.

 Furthermore, we will evaluate the severity of aphasia, dysarthria and dysphagia in an acute
 setting (first few days) with standardized measurements (ScreeLing, BNT, NSVO-Z, perceptual
 assessment, MASA/FOIS).

 To evaluate the effect of early IVT/EVT in patients with ischemic stroke on functional
 outcomes for language and speech via the NIHSS scale.
Study population:

 Patients who are admitted to the acute Stroke Unit of the University Hospital Ghent will be
 recruited.

 Study course:

 The study has a prospective, observational design, with each participant receiving regular
 standard of care as follows: patients will undergo a clinical examination by a staff
 neurologists or the present attending in the emergency room. Tailored medical treatment will
 be given to each patient considering the type of stroke etc. as is standard of care (e.g.
 thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy for patients with ischemic stroke). Patients that are stable
 enough are transferred to the Stroke Unit where the neurologist or attending of the unit will
 reassess all stroke patients. NIHSS scores will be reported at least at day 2 +/- 1. A
 dysphagia screening is performed by the Stroke Unit nurses when the patient arrives at the
 Stroke Unit. The scores of the sub-items language and speech of the NIHSS and the dysphagia
 screening combined with a general screening by a speech language pathologist will be used to
 confirm or discard aphasia, dysphagia and dysarthria (incidence). When aphasia, dysarthria
 and/or dysphagia is confirmed, standardized tests will be performed. For this study, data of
 the following tests will be included for analysis: ScreeLing and/or BNT (aphasia), NSVO-Z and
 a perceptual assessment (dysarthria), MASA and/or the FOIS (dysphagia). At day 7 +/- 1, NIHSS
 scores will be reassessed (recovery in time). The diagnostic assessments and the NIHSS
 sub-items speech/language will be used to investigate the severity and recovery of the
 symptoms in time. Reports of the neurological clinical examination at follow-up will be
 retrospectively investigated if possible for additional information about recovery in time.

 The total duration of data collection will be approximately 1 week and if possible three
 months follow-up.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Acute stroke patients admitted at the Acute Stroke Unit at the university hospital
 (Ghent)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Previous aphasia, dysarthria, dysphagia