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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| Medical College of Wisconsin | OTHER |
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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.
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.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early tDCS | Experimental | This group will undergo Active tDCS + PMT for weeks 1-3 and Sham tDCS + PMT for weeks 4-6. |
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| Late tDCS | Sham Comparator | This group will undergo Sham tDCS + PMT for weeks 1-3 and Active tDCS + PMT for weeks 4-6. |
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| Interleaved tDCS | Active Comparator | This group will receive PMT + Active/Sham tDCS on alternate days for 6 weeks. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule of tDCS administration | Device | 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. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Reading aloud accuracy | 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. | before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension Battery for Aphasia 2nd Edition | Participants will complete a standardized language assessment. | before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment |
| Western Aphasia Battery |
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Inclusion Criteria:
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
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kessler Foundation | West Orange | New Jersey | 07052 | United States | ||
| Medical College of Wisconsin |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D020521 | Stroke |
| D001037 | Aphasia |
| D004410 | Dyslexia |
| D003147 | Communication Disorders |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D002561 | Cerebrovascular Disorders |
| D001927 | Brain Diseases |
| D002493 | Central Nervous System Diseases |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
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|
Participants will complete a standardized language assessment.
| before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment |
| Milwaukee |
| Wisconsin |
| 53226 |
| United States |
| D014652 | Vascular Diseases |
| D002318 | Cardiovascular Diseases |
| D013064 | Speech Disorders |
| D007806 | Language Disorders |
| D019954 | Neurobehavioral Manifestations |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D000067559 | Specific Learning Disorder |
| D007859 | Learning Disabilities |
| D065886 | Neurodevelopmental Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |