Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation + Language Therapy to Treat Mild Aphasia
Sponsored by University of Pennsylvania
About this study
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
Aphasia is an acquired disorder of language that occurs in approximately 30% of individuals with stroke and impacts approximately 1 million Americans (see NINDS.NIH.gov). Current treatments for aphasia are only modestly beneficial, so there is a clear need for more efficacious therapy. Previous research has demonstrated that TMS improves language performance in persons with aphasia and the benefit has been shown to be sustained. All studies of which we are aware, however, have included participants with moderate/severe aphasia. The issue of mild aphasia has received little attention to date but as there is an increasing recognition that even very mild language deficits have important negative consequences for employment and social well-being. This study will aim to treat mild aphasia with…
Where this study is enrolling
- I'm interested
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Who can participate
Inclusion criteria
- ✓Left Hemisphere stroke
- ✓Stroke occurred more than 6 months ago
- ✓Mild Aphasia (WAB AQ score \> 85)
- ✓Proficient in English
Exclusion criteria
- ✕Ongoing substance or alcohol abuse
- ✕Other neurological disorders, beside stroke (i.e. dementia, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis)
- ✕Active psychiatric disorders (i.e. bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)
- ✕Pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator
- ✕Diagnosis of tinnitus
- ✕Epilepsy, or seizure in the past 6 months
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Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.