Predicting Rehabilitation Outcomes in Bilingual Aphasia Using Computational Modeling

Double-blind Randomized Trial Investigating the Use of Computational Modeling to Predict Rehabilitation Outcomes in Bilingual Aphasia

The purpose of this investigation is to implement a computational model that can predict and optimize training and cross-language generalization patterns for bilingual persons with aphasia (BPA). The proposed work will determine the best possible treatment program for each individual patient even before they are rehabilitated. In addition, the computational model allows specification of variables such as age of acquisition, language exposure/proficiency, impairment and their systematic influence on a range of language rehabilitation outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any number of years of education
• Bilingual: speaking both Spanish and English (or Chinese and English) with any degree of language proficiency prior to stroke
• Aphasia secondary to a left-hemisphere stroke (diagnosed by a neurologist on the basis of clinical CT/MRI imaging or medical reports)
• Aphasia resulting from stroke or dementia
• Naming deficits must be present with concurrent lexical/semantic impairment
• Visual and auditory acuity sufficient for all assessment and treatment procedures
• Ability to understand study and follow study procedures for the entire length of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Premorbid history of speech/language disorder
• Proficient in more than just Spanish and English (or Chinese and English)
• Overt, behaviorally noticeable, attentional limitations that interfere with completing the experimental tasks
• Active medical disease that may compromise participation (e.g., cancer undergoing acute treatment, unstable diabetes, renal or hepatic insufficiency, fluctuating systemic immunological disease such as systemic lupus erythematosis, etc.)
• Currently taking medications that are known to exert significant effects on cognitive processes, such as neuroleptics, steroids, anticholinesterase inhibitors, etc.
• Current drug or alcohol use or dependence that would interfere with adherence to study requirements, in the opinion of the principal investigator
• Inability or unwillingness of individual to give written informed consent
• Diagnosed with mental illness other than active depression
• Neurological condition other than that which resulted in aphasia