CompletedPhase 2

Speech Entrainment for Aphasia Recovery

United States80 participantsStarted 2020-08-21

Plain-language summary

After a stroke, many people experience a language impairment called aphasia. One of the most debilitating types of aphasia is non-fluent aphasia. Non-fluent aphasia is defined by significantly reduced speech production, with the speaker producing only a few words or even less. Speech entrainment therapy (SET) is a treatment that has been shown to increase fluency in people with non-fluent aphasia. The study looks to define the best dose of SET that leads to sustained improvements in spontaneous speech production. Participants who are eligible will undergo baseline language testing, an MRI, and will be randomized into one of 4 treatment groups: SET for 3 weeks, SET for 4.5 weeks, SET for 6 weeks, and no treatment (control group).

Who can participate

Age range21 Years – 81 Years

SexALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria * Aphasia as a result of a left hemisphere ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (WAB-R Aphasia Quotient \<93.8). * Presence of left hemisphere stroke in clinical imaging (CT/MRI) and NIHSS * Participants must have spoken English as their primary language. * 21-81 years old * Pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS)= 2 or less * Post-stroke mRS= 4 or less. * At least 6 months post-stroke. * Non-fluent aphasia (WAB-R Comprehension score \>4 and WAB-R Fluency score \<6). * Technological compatibility (to be determined by clinical judgment of SLP) Exclusion Criteria * History of chronic neurological or psychiatric diseases (excluding migraines, depression, or post-stroke epilepsy). Self-reported history of learning disability. * Severe dysarthria (determined via SLP clinical judgment from spontaneous speech tasks on the ASRS 3.0). * Global aphasia. * History of right-hemisphere strokes or brain stem/cerebellar strokes with persistent deficits (as evidenced by MRI/CT and NIHSS). * Uncorrectable hearing as determined by the SLP's clinical judgment. * Uncorrectable vision. * Contraindications to MRI or inability to complete the MRI scanning session. * Women who are pregnant.

What they're measuring

Average Verbs Per Minute (VPM) Change From Baseline

Timeframe: 3 months after treatment (or no treatment)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04364854

SponsorMedical University of South Carolina

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-05-08

Results submitted2025-03-11