[Speech rehabilitation in aphasia in the concept of International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICDH0)].

A neurogenic disorder of acquired speech, aphasia not only is a speech disorder but also implies restriction in communicative independence. In line with the WHO's principle of attending to the consequences of disease as well, speech rehabilitation has to deal not only with aphasia in terms of speech disorder (i.e., impairment) but also with aphasia in terms of communicative ability disorder (i.e., disability) as well as with aphasia in terms of psychosocial interference (i.e., handicap). Current speech therapy orientations can be assigned to these three dimensions and the need for these three levels of approach can be assessed accordingly in light of the course of the condition. Given the speech disorder's frequently limited amenability to therapeutic intervention, a psycholinguistics-communication oriented speech rehabilitation as well as counselling and psychologically focussed measures are increasingly relevant to enable a more appropriate response to reduced communicative independence and ensuing psychosocial handicaps.