Aphasia, Stroke
Conditions
Keywords
Aphasia, Post-stroke rehabilitation, Reading impairment, Language therapy, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Phonomotor Treatment (PMT), Brain stimulation therapy, Neurorehabilitation, Randomized controlled trial (RCT), Non-invasive brain stimulation, Neuromodulation, Speech and language therapy
Brief summary
This study is designed for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors, making it difficult to read, speak, and understand language. Up to 70% of people with aphasia struggle with reading, which impacts their ability to communicate, work, and engage in daily life. The study aims to test a new approach to reading rehabilitation by combining Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT), a language therapy adapted to improve reading, with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and painless brain stimulation technique. tDCS delivers a mild electrical current to the brain, which may enhance learning. This study will assess whether adding tDCS to PMT improves reading therapy outcomes.
Detailed description
This study aims to improve reading rehabilitation for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors. The goal is to determine whether adding transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and painless brain stimulation technique, to Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT), a language therapy adapted for reading, enhances treatment effectiveness. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, each receiving different combinations of PMT and tDCS over six weeks. Some will receive active tDCS at different points in therapy, while others will receive a placebo (sham) version. By comparing how the timing of tDCS affects reading improvement, this study aims to optimize treatment strategies for individuals with aphasia. Reading and language skills will be assessed before, during, and after treatment using standardized tests to measure progress. The study will take place at two sites: Kessler Foundation and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), where participants will complete therapy sessions. Findings from this research may help develop more effective and accessible treatments for stroke survivors with aphasia, improving their ability to read and communicate.
Interventions
DEVICESchedule of tDCS administration
This study evaluates the combined effects of Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for reading rehabilitation in post-stroke aphasia. Unlike standard speech therapy, this intervention integrates non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance language recovery by modulating neural activity in perilesional areas. We hypothesize that active tDCS will enhance PMT efficacy, leading to greater improvements in reading competence and phonological processing compared to sham tDCS. Through systematic testing across the 3 study arms, we expect to identify the most effective stimulation timing.
Sponsors
Kessler Foundation
Medical College of Wisconsin
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Chronic (\>6 months) left-hemisphere stroke * Aphasia diagnosis. * Deficits in reading aloud.
Exclusion criteria
* Eye condition not correctable with lenses and interfering with reading (e.g., blindness) * Severe apraxia of speech or cognitive deficits preventing participation. * Participation in one-on-one aphasia rehabilitation during the study period. * Brain disorders other than stroke (such as Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, etc) * Contraindications of tDCS or MRI * Skin condition affecting the scull (e.g., psoriasis) or open wounds at the stimulation site. * Presence of metallic implants (e.g., cardiac stimulators or pacemakers, cochlear implants) * History of ongoing/unmanaged seizers * Pregnancy * Claustrophobia * Inability to lie flat on the back
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading aloud accuracy | before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment | Participants will read words and pronounceable pseudowords that appear one at a time on the computer screen. Each testing session will be audio recorded and independently scored by 2 raters, with ties resolved by a 3rd rater. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension Battery for Aphasia 2nd Edition | before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment | Participants will complete a standardized language assessment. |
| Western Aphasia Battery | before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment | Participants will complete a standardized language assessment. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed