Post-stroke aphasia Circulatory System Sequelae of cerebral infarction
Conditions
Interventions
Current intervention as of 21/10/2021:
After the initial baseline assessment, participants are randomised to ‘immediate’ or deferred treatment conditions. Randomisation: 1:1 immediate vs deferred (not
attention to key components of sentence structure in a word monitoring paradigm
sentence production with gradual increase in sentence length and creativity. All stimuli include frequent phrase/sentence frames. The treatment is delivered in 12 x 45- to 60-minute sessions over a fo
Sponsors
University College London
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Current inclusion criteria as of 09/03/2020: 1. Premorbid competence in English 2. Premorbidly right-handed 3. Single left hemisphere stroke 4. At least 6 months post-stroke onset 5. Presence of aphasia, characterized by spoken sentence comprehension impairment (scoring < 16 blocks correct on TROG-2) and/or spoken sentence production difficulties (incomplete and/or simple sentences) at baseline assessment 6. Capacity to give informed consent 7. Sufficient auditory and visual capacity to interact with the behavioural therapy _____ Previous inclusion criteria: 1. Premorbid competence in English 2. Premorbidly right-handed 3. Single left hemisphere stroke 4. At least 6 months post-stroke onset 5. Presence of aphasia, characterized by spoken and written comprehension impairment and spoken sentence production difficulties 6. Capacity to give informed consent 7. Sufficient auditory and visual capacity to interact with the behavioural therapy
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Current participant exclusion criteria as of 21/10/2021: 1. Significant other neurological disorder (e.g., neurodegenerative illness) 2. History of speech and language disorder prior to stroke (e.g., developmental dyslexia) 3. Current involvement in another therapy trial _____ Previous participant exclusion criteria as of 09/03/2020: 1. Significant other neurological disorder (e.g., neurodegenerative illness) 2. History of speech and language disorder prior to stroke (e.g., developmental dyslexia) 3. Current involvement in another brain stimulation or behavioural therapy trial 4. Metal implants on/in head causing tDCS risk and heart pacemakers 5. History of severe headaches requiring treatment with medication other than simple analgesia 6. History of seizure in the past 6 months 7. Headscarf or hairstyle that prevents contact between electrode and skin 8. Skin abrasion/abnormality below the site of the electrodes 9. Adverse effects to previous tDCS or other brain stimulation techniques 10. Pregnant or likely to be pregnant _____ Previous exclusion criteria: 1. Significant other neurological disorder (e.g., neurodegenerative illness) 2. History of speech and language disorder prior to stroke (e.g., developmental dyslexia) 3. Metal implants on/in head causing tDCS risk 4. Recurring headaches 5. History of seizure in the past 3 months 6. Current involvement in another brain stimulation or behavioural therapy trial
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Sentence comprehension is measured using the Test for Reception of Grammar (TROG-2, Bishop, 2003). 2. Sentence production is measured using narrative speech evaluated by automated language analysis with the key variable of combination ratio (number of 3-word combinations/total number of words). Primary outcome measures are completed twice at baseline to evaluate pre-intervention stability of behaviour. Assessments will be repeated immediately on cessation of treatment and after an 8-week no-treatment maintenance period. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. The capacity to produce treated and matched control sentences is measured using a study-specific story completion test at Baseline 1 and immediately after the intervention. 2. Perceptions of quality of life are measured using SAQOL-39 at Baseline 2 and second/maintenance outcome (Hilari et al., 2003). 3. Sentence production is also evaluated using connected speech measures of mean length of utterance, function word ratio and frequency characteristics of word combinations at all four assessment time-points. | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed