Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and Phonomotor Therapy (NCT06891638) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and Phonomotor Therapy
United States6 participantsStarted 2025-05-12
Plain-language 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.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
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
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Reading aloud accuracy
Timeframe: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment