ReSpeakClinical Resource

Aphasia Recovery Milestone Tracker

A week-by-week log to track language milestones, therapy attendance, and home practice in the first year after stroke. Bring this to every clinic appointment.

Patient name:

SLP / Clinician:

Date started:

respeaktherapy.com·For use under SLP supervision·Not a substitute for clinical assessment

About this tracker

Recovery from aphasia happens gradually and can be hard to notice day-to-day. This tracker helps you and your SLP identify trends over weeks and months. Small consistent improvements, visible only across a longer timeline, are clinically significant.

+Complete the weekly log each Sunday evening
+Rate communication ability on the 1-5 scale below
+Record home practice days honestly — this data helps your SLP adjust the programme
+Note any significant changes, medical events, or missed therapy weeks

Communication rating scale

+1 = Very limited: single words only, frequent communication breakdown
+2 = Limited: short phrases, communication requires significant support
+3 = Moderate: short sentences, communication usually successful with effort
+4 = Good: most messages get through, occasional word-finding pauses
+5 = Near-normal: rare word-finding difficulty, communication mostly fluent

Months 1-3 (acute phase)

This is typically the fastest period of change. Expect week-to-week variation.

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
1			/ 6
2			/ 6
3			/ 6
4			/ 6
5			/ 6
6			/ 6
7			/ 6
8			/ 6
9			/ 6
10			/ 6
11			/ 6
12			/ 6

Months 4-6 (subacute phase)

Progress often slows. Look for improvements over 4-week blocks rather than week-to-week.

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
13			/ 6
14			/ 6
15			/ 6
16			/ 6
17			/ 6
18			/ 6
19			/ 6
20			/ 6
21			/ 6
22			/ 6
23			/ 6
24			/ 6
25			/ 6

Months 7-12 (chronic phase begins)

Progress is real but slower. Compare ratings to Month 1, not to last week.

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
26			/ 6
27			/ 6
28			/ 6
29			/ 6
30			/ 6
31			/ 6
32			/ 6
33			/ 6
34			/ 6
35			/ 6
36			/ 6
37			/ 6
38			/ 6
39			/ 6
40			/ 6
41			/ 6
42			/ 6
43			/ 6
44			/ 6
45			/ 6
46			/ 6
47			/ 6
48			/ 6
49			/ 6
50			/ 6
51			/ 6

Key milestones — check when achieved

+☐ Reliably responds yes/no to questions
+☐ Names 10 or more everyday objects consistently
+☐ Produces 2-word combinations
+☐ Produces short sentences (3-4 words)
+☐ Holds a short conversation (5+ turns)
+☐ Reads single words reliably
+☐ Reads short sentences
+☐ Writes name independently
+☐ Writes short messages
+☐ Manages phone calls with familiar people
+☐ Manages phone calls with unfamiliar people
+☐ Returns to a previous activity (work, hobby, social group)

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
13			/ 6
14			/ 6
15			/ 6
16			/ 6
17			/ 6
18			/ 6
19			/ 6
20			/ 6
21			/ 6
22			/ 6
23			/ 6
24			/ 6
25			/ 6

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
26			/ 6
27			/ 6
28			/ 6
29			/ 6
30			/ 6
31			/ 6
32			/ 6
33			/ 6
34			/ 6
35			/ 6
36			/ 6
37			/ 6
38			/ 6
39			/ 6
40			/ 6
41			/ 6
42			/ 6
43			/ 6
44			/ 6
45			/ 6
46			/ 6
47			/ 6
48			/ 6
49			/ 6
50			/ 6
51			/ 6

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
13			/ 6
14			/ 6
15			/ 6
16			/ 6
17			/ 6
18			/ 6
19			/ 6
20			/ 6
21			/ 6
22			/ 6
23			/ 6
24			/ 6
25			/ 6

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
26			/ 6
27			/ 6
28			/ 6
29			/ 6
30			/ 6
31			/ 6
32			/ 6
33			/ 6
34			/ 6
35			/ 6
36			/ 6
37			/ 6
38			/ 6
39			/ 6
40			/ 6
41			/ 6
42			/ 6
43			/ 6
44			/ 6
45			/ 6
46			/ 6
47			/ 6
48			/ 6
49			/ 6
50			/ 6
51			/ 6

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
13			/ 6
14			/ 6
15			/ 6
16			/ 6
17			/ 6
18			/ 6
19			/ 6
20			/ 6
21			/ 6
22			/ 6
23			/ 6
24			/ 6
25			/ 6

Week	Dates	Clinic sessions	Home practice days	Communication rating (1-5)	Notable changes / events
26			/ 6
27			/ 6
28			/ 6
29			/ 6
30			/ 6
31			/ 6
32			/ 6
33			/ 6
34			/ 6
35			/ 6
36			/ 6
37			/ 6
38			/ 6
39			/ 6
40			/ 6
41			/ 6
42			/ 6
43			/ 6
44			/ 6
45			/ 6
46			/ 6
47			/ 6
48			/ 6
49			/ 6
50			/ 6
51			/ 6