Impact of sensory integration in modulating neuronal oscillation bands and antagonist vibratory response during co-vibration.

In the United Stated the annual rate of stroke is approximately 795,000 people (). Of those ~ 610000 are first stroke events and 185,000 are recurrent strokes (). The direct and indirect costs of stroke in the US is believed to be greater than 56 billion dollars annually (). Many stroke survivors are left with significant disability, including motor dysfunction, spasticity, cognitive impairment, dysphagia, depression, epilepsy, and aphasia (). Reported post-stroke disability can result in reduced independence and poor quality of life (QOL) for many stroke survivors (). There is evidence that stroke is more likely to occur in women than in men (). The stroke literature suggests stroke occurs more often in women because women have longer life spans and other unique risks such as pregnancy, preeclampsia, and the use of oral contraceptives (). There is also evidence that women who experience stroke present differently than men, thereby raising concern about early stroke management (). Similarly, women have greater disability and are more likely to report more negative post-stroke functional limitations, especially in the physical domain (). Finally, women experience poorer functional recovery and lower QOL than men after stroke (). Among the many post-stroke conditions is aphasia, where concerns about sex differences have emerged. Aphasia is an acquired language disorder that often occurs after a stroke that impacts spoken language expression, written expression, spoken language comprehension, and reading comprehension (). Estimates suggest that 18.4% of stroke survivors discharged from US hospitals have aphasia and the presence of aphasia is associated with lower functional stroke outcomes, longer stays in rehabilitation settings, and increased mortality (). Similar to general stroke outcomes, people with aphasia (PWA) are left with reductions in functional communication that negatively impact their life satisfaction and quality of life (; ).