Rehabilitation and self-management support for people with aphasia and cognitive communication disability in Malaysia: a scoping review.

Abstract

Rehabilitation and the speech-language therapy profession are advancing in Malaysia, yet access to community-based rehabilitation services and self-management support for aphasia and cognitive communication disability remains unclear. This review aimed to explore the availability and accessibility of community-based rehabilitation services and self-management support for people with aphasia and cognitive communication disability in Malaysia, while also investigating the sociocultural factors influencing access. A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O'Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute frameworks. Structured Google searches and targeted website searches followed Godin et al. Eleven scholarly texts were included. No scholarly texts addressed cognitive communication disability or included perspectives from people with lived experience. Google searches identified 19 organisations offering aphasia or cognitive communication rehabilitation services, and one aphasia support group in Malaysia. Factors influencing access include Malaysia's multilingualism, limited speech-language therapists, lack of specialisation in aphasiology, financial constraints, and positive attitudes towards technology-based interventions. Rehabilitation services and self-management support for people with aphasia and cognitive communication disability in Malaysia are geographically inequitable. There is an urgent need for further research to support the development of community-based rehabilitation and self-management support for aphasia and cognitive communication disability in Malaysia.