Aphasia, Acquired

The goal of this study is to see if transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can be used to enhance language abilities in people with post-stroke aphasia. Participants will receive real and sham tACS in conjunction with various language tests. Researchers will compare the post-stroke aphasia group with aged matched controls to see if brain response to tACS differs between groups.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of traditional Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) treatment to a modified SFA protocol that includes Metacognitive Strategy Training (SFA+MST) for adults with acquired aphasia. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are the comparative outcomes in picture naming accuracy and strategy use during picture naming following 2 months of traditional SFA versus SFA + MST in adults with acquired aphasia? * What are the comparative outcomes in percent of informative content and rate of informative content during spontaneous speech production following 2 months of traditional SFA versus SFA + MST in adults with acquired aphasia? Researchers will compare outcomes between these two treatments to see if SFA+MST yields larger effects in picture naming and spontaneous speech outcomes than traditional SFA. Participants will complete: * 5-7 pre-treatment assessment sessions where they will be asked to name pictures, tell stories/describe pictures, answer questions, and complete questionnaires, * 3 treatment sessions of SFA \*OR\* SFA+MST per week for 8 weeks, for a total of 24 sessions, * 7 weekly probes (i.e., short, intermittent assessments throughout the treatment phase), * 3 post-treatment assessment sessions immediately after treatment ends, where they will complete the same assessment tasks as they did pre-treatment (e.g., naming pictures, telling stories, etc.), * 2 retention assessment sessions, one 30 days and the other 60 days following the final treatment session, where they will be asked to name pictures, tell stories/describe pictures, and describe what they learned during the study.

The use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the management of deficits developed in stroke is a relatively new type of management option. Many of the studies performed using tDCS have focused on improvements noted in hemiplegia as compared to aphasia, which is an equally disabling outcome of strokes. The results of these studies have not been conclusive and concordant with each other. In aphasia management, the majority of the studies have focused on chronic strokes. Since the use of tDCS is relatively new, the studies have not focused on a particular type of deficit or stroke. Very few studies have focused on the impact of solely using tDCS. Very few studies have focused on acute to subacute strokes. The results of the studies have, nevertheless, been encouraging. Improvements in aspects of language tested after a single session of tDCS are short-lived. There is an unmet need to probe the utility of repetitive tDCS on aspects of language function in patients who are aphasic due to acute stroke. There is also a paucity of data in the Indian scenario regarding the same.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of a high-intensity exercise program on recovery in individuals with post-stroke aphasia. The high-intensity exercise program has been specifically designed for individuals with post-stroke aphasia and includes an interval training full-body workout, which can increase cardiovascular fitness, improve muscle strength and motor performance, and maximize cognitive and language gains. The main question this study aims to answer is: • Does participation in a high-intensity exercise program lead to changes in physical health, language, cognitive, motor recovery, psychological and/or psychosocial domains? Participants will be randomly assigned to either a high-intensity exercise program (target intervention) or a low-intensity exercise program (control intervention) delivered over 12-weeks in a group setting. Outcome measures will be collected once immediately after the intervention period and once during the following 12-week maintenance period to capture short- and long-term effects of the exercise program.

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) combined with Speech-Language Therapy (SLT) is an effective treatment for mild aphasia in persons with chronic stroke. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Can TMS combined with SLT improve conversational speech and comprehension? 2. Can we identify specific behavioral and biological characteristics that would benefit most from the TMS and SLT treatment? Researchers will compare real TMS to sham (fake) TMS to see whether TMS can treat post-stroke mild aphasia. Participants will: * Complete a screening and medical intake to determine eligibility * Undergo a MRI * Participate in 10 consecutive sessions (Monday-Friday) of TMS and SLT treatment * Complete follow-up assessments 2 and 4 months after treatment

The goal of this RCT is to investigate if computerized script training may promote functional communication and nonverbal cognitive functions of Cantonese-speaking PWA, and whether VR may further magnify the treatment outcomes. The main research questions are: 1. Can script training promote verbal functional communication of Cantonese-speaking PWA? 2. Can script training enhance nonverbal cognitive functions of Cantonese-speaking PWA? 3. Can VR magnify verbal and nonverbal treatment outcomes of script training of PWA?

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.

The goal of this clinical trial is to measure the effects of a speech therapy protocol combining anomia therapy and executive function training on naming and discourse in people with chronic aphasia, and to study the related brain changes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the protocol improve naming skills ? * Do the improvements observed transfer to discourse abilities ? * Are there any brain changes induced by this protocol ? Researchers will compare anomia therapy alone to anomia therapy + executive function training to see if the latter works better. Participants will: * Have a whole language assessment and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan in the hospital before and after the protocol * Receive 18 sessions of the protocol, 3 times a week during 6 weeks, in the hospital * Have several naming assessments during the protocol

The proposed research is relevant to public health because stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability among older adults and communication impairments resulting from stroke have a significant negative impact on quality of life. By seeking to better understand post-stroke aphasia, this project lays the groundwork for development of new interventions, and aligns with NIDCD's priority areas 1 (understanding normal function), 2 (understanding diseases), and 3 (improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention).

In the planned study, clinical and electrophysiological features of aphasia recovery in stroke patients are investigated.