The CHAT Program was developed over a number of years in the homes of stroke survivors and represents a collection of therapeutic strategies acquired over thirty years of helping people with aphasia. It has proven to be a viable option for language retrieval therapy following dismissal from a formal therapy program. The CHAT Program was designed for the client with aphasia who has been terminated from a formal therapy program or is going to be finalizing his/her formal therapy soon.

For these people who want to continue with therapy, introducing the CHAT Program before formal discharge allows both the client and the Speech-Language Pathologist in charge of the program, to make an intelligent decision as to the efficacy of continuing with the CHAT Program at home.

Termination of therapy is usually difficult for all concerned: the client, the family, and the speech pathologist. It is difficult to predict whether or not clients will continue to progress with more therapy. The sad reality of the situation is that third-party insurers will not continue therapy payments if reports indicate that the client is not making progress. However, if the client wants to have more therapy, what is s/he to do?

The solution to this dilemma for many clients is the Computerized Home Aphasia Therapy Program (CHAT), which allows clients to work independently of others, including speech pathologists and family members. They may intervene briefly from time to time to offer encouragement, but therapy is now under the clients' control. This may well be the first time that the client has felt in control of anything since his or her stroke.

For a relatively small one time cost, a client can use the CHAT Program indefinitely on his or her computer. Thus, therapy is available 24 hours a day, and there is no need to go to some special location and at a scheduled time to get it.

The most important feature of this program is that the client's need for language retrieval therapy is satisfied. Also worth considering is for the client to purchase the software and begin using the program while still under the guidance of the Speech Pathologist. By doing so, both client and family will feel more accepting of the pending discharge from the clinical program.

The client can function with the CHAT Program without the intervention of others, but it may be helpful if some professional assistance is provided for monitoring the client's progress, and for offering advice and counseling as may be needed.

The CHAT Program can also be used by a visiting Speech Pathologist as a means of assigning homework on the computer to compliment his/her individual therapy program.