Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of scalp acupuncture combined with speech therapy on the patients with ischemic stroke.Methods 96 patients with Broca aphasia of ischemic stroke were divided into the treatment group(scalp acupuncture and speech therapy) and the control group (only speech therapy). The China Rehabilitation Research Center Aphasia Examination(CRRCAE) was used to assess the language function. All the patients were observed in basic language features such as the auditory comprehension, repetition, speech, and reading.Results The scores of composite language ability of the two groups were all raised significantly after two treatment courses, but it was more significantly in the treatment group than in the control group (P＜0.01). Conclusion Scalp acupuncture combined with speech therapy can improve the basic language skills of the patients with ischemic stroke following Broca aphasia.

Key words: ischemic stroke, scalp acupuncture, speech therapy, language function assessment