Effect of Community Choir Singing in People With Chronic Post-stroke Aphasia
ConditionAphasia
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of Ottawa
About this trial
The goal of this randomized controled trial is to test the effects of assigning people with chronic post-stroke aphasia to 12 weekly choir sessions, compared to usual care.
The main question it aims to answer is:
Does the assignment to a choir singing program causes a beneficial effect on functional communication and language recovery as well as psychosocial outcomes compared to usual care in the rehabilitation of people with chronic post-stroke aphasia?
Participants will have:
12 in-person choir-singing sessions (1 session/week, 1,5 h/session, total 18h) conducted by a choir master, and home singing training (3 x 30-minutes-sessions/week, total 18h)
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
People with chronic aphasia following stroke
English or French as language of daily use
Last stroke must have occurred at least 6 months before the start of the first assessments in the study protocol.
Disqualifiers
Regular music making in the past 6 months
Visual deficit that cannot be corrected and might impair testing
Hearing deficit that cannot be corrected and might impair testing
Presence of neurological/psychiatric co-morbidity or substance abuse
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Choir singing
BehavioralThe 12-week intervention will consist of 12 in-person choir-singing sessions (1 session/week, 1,5 h/session, total 18h) conducted by a choir master in addition to home training (3 x 30-minutes-sessions/week, total 18h). In total, participants will undergo the intervention for 3 hours/week for 12 weeks (i.e., 36 hours).
Usual care
Other interventionRehabilitation services received by patients and social activities will be monitored and documented.
Treatment groups
50 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: AB GroupExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: BA GroupExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Communication Index
The ability to communicate one's feelings and basic needs effectively / is computed by averaging the percentage scores (score/total×100) of the Communicative Activity Log (CAL) and the communication subscale of the Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 (SIS). Minimum value=0; Maximum value=100; Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame
T1 (baseline, week 1), T2 (week 15), T3 (week 16), T4 (week 30), T5 (week 31)Secondary outcomes
1
Level of confidence in communication
Individual's subjective perception of their ability to effectively communicate in various situations / assessed with the Communication Confidence Rating Scale for Aphasia (CCRSA), a self-reported assessment in 10 questions. Minimum value=4; Maximum value=40; Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame
T1 (baseline, week 1), T2 (week 15), T3 (week 16), T4 (week 30), T5 (week 31)2
Aphasia severity index
The aphasia severity index quantifies the extent of language impairment experienced by individuals with aphasia / assessed using the Quick Aphasia Battery (QAB). Minimum value=0; Maximum value=10; Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame
T1 (baseline, week 1), T2 (week 15), T3 (week 16), T4 (week 30), T5 (week 31)3
Speech and language in functional communication
The ability of an individual to effectively use verbal communication skills / assessed with a part of the AphasiaBank protocol to elicit connected speech in participants Minimum value=0; Maximum value=100; Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Time frame
T1 (baseline, week 1), T2 (week 15), T3 (week 16), T4 (week 30), T5 (week 31)4
Apraxia of speech severity
The degree or level of impairment in the motor planning and execution of speech movements / assessed with the Apraxia of Speech Rating Scale (ASRS-3.5) experienced by individuals with apraxia Minimum value=0; Maximum value=52; Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Time frame
T1 (baseline, week 1), T2 (week 15), T3 (week 16), T4 (week 30), T5 (week 31)Other outcomes
1
Voice - Pitch
Pitch mean, standard deviation, and range in spontaneous speech based on a quick standardized voice production protocol
Time frame
Before and afrer choir sessions 2, 6, 10 and 122
Voice - Maximum Phonation Time
Maximum Phonation Time based on a quick standardized voice production protocol
Time frame
Before and afrer choir sessions 2, 6, 10 and 123
Voice - Dynamic range
Dynamic range based on a quick standardized voice production protocol
Time frame
Before and afrer choir sessions 2, 6, 10 and 124
Mood
Temporary state of mind or temper / assessed with the Observed Emotion Rating Scale (OERS), an observational tool for rating two positive emotions (pleasure and general alertness) and three negative emotions (anger, anxiety or fear, and sadness) over a defined 10-minute period. A longer display of emotion is indicated by higher scores.
Time frame
The first and last 10 minutes of sessions 2, 6, 10 and 12 as well as the last 10 minutes of the break.Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University of Ottawa
Lead sponsor
Toronto Metropolitan University
Collaborator
Université de Montréal
Collaborator
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Collaborator
University of South Florida
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov