BACKGROUND: the brief assessment of communication is a useful resource to health professionals. It provides information on the functional diagnosis, planning and execution of expanded evaluations and rehabilitation programs to be undertaken in each case. PURPOSE: to submit a systematic review on the use of standardized instruments regarding brief assessment of communication, and characterize the target population. CONCLUSION: based on the conducted research, 18 manuscripts with 10 brief instruments were found. The most examined population was post-stroke patients. Expression, comprehension, reading and writing were the most prevalent linguistic components in the evaluations.