Enhancing Language Function in Aphasia
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age21-80
SponsorUniversity of Arizona
About this trial
Aphasia is an acquired impairment of language, that commonly results from damage to language areas in the brain (typically the left side of the brain). This impairment is seen in many aspects of language, including understanding, speaking, reading and writing. It is estimated that about 2 million individuals are currently living with aphasia in the United States. Further, about 200,000 Americans acquire aphasia every year (National Aphasia Association, 2020). Aphasia poses significant impact on the affected individuals and their families. Behavioral treatments that target language deficits have been shown to enhance overall communication skills and life satisfaction among individuals with aphasia. Although there is evidence that suggests that treatment is efficacious for individuals with aphasia, the extent of improvement long-term coupled with the neural patterns among those individuals are largely unknown. The current study aims to investigate the efficacy of language-based treatment and its corresponding neural patterns.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Present with speech-language impairment (aphasia) caused by stroke or dementia
A medical diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) by a neurologist or physician
Are native speakers of English
Present with no contraindications for MRI
Disqualifiers
Individuals diagnosed with mood, anxiety, psychotic or substance abuse disorders.
Individuals with highly magnetizable metallic implants, including certain dental work, may be excluded due to image quality in MRI.
Individuals with other neurological disorders besides the ones of interest for the study (e.g., epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease)
Individuals with contraindications for MRI. This includes but is not limited to pacemakers, metallic cardiac pumps, valves, magnetic materials such as surgical clips, implanted electronic perfusion pumps, or any other condition that would preclude proximity to a strong magnetic field.
Trial design
Design model
Factorial
Treatments tested in this trial
individualized speech-language training
BehavioralLanguage treatment might include lexical, semantic, and interactive treatment. During treatment, patients may be trained to name words by attempting to self-cue lexical retrieval. The therapy moves incrementally through semantic cuing. The semantic treatment will be implemented using the methods described in (Edmonds et al., 2009, 2014).
standard language intervention
BehavioralParticipants will undergo standard speech-language naming therapy
Treatment groups
30 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Active therapy groupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: control groupActive comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Mean change from baseline scores on the naming task
Mean change from baseline scores on the Boston Naming Test: Min score = 0; Max = 60; higher scores indicate better outcome
Time frame
through study completion, an average of 1 year2
Mean change from baseline scores in aphasia severity
Mean change from baseline scores on the Western Aphasia Battery: Min score = 0; Max = 100; higher scores indicate better outcome
Time frame
through study completion, an average of 1 year3
Mean change from baseline scores on the language probe task before and after each session
change on on the probe task from before the session; Min =0; Max = 100%; higher scores indicate better outcome
Time frame
through study completion, an average of 1 yearSponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov