This trial is examining the best dose of speech entrainment therapy (SET) to treat aphasia (speech impairment) in stroke survivors. The main outcome will be the number of verbs per minute before and after treatment. This trial will be conducted in South Carolina and Utah, US.
The details
A stroke happens when the blood flow to the brain is cut-off. The brain cells stop receiving oxygen and begin to die. This leaves patients with various side effects, such as aphasia. This disorder consists of impairment in language. One of the worst types is non-fluent aphasia which consists of reduced talking ability. The speaker can only say a few words or even less.
SET consists of mimicking an audio/visual speech. This allows patients to improve their talking capabilities. Prior studies suggested that SET is associated with improved outcomes for patients with aphasia. However, it is still not clear what is the best dose of SET associated with long-lasting improvement in speech.
This trial will test the best dose of SET for patients with aphasia. The main outcome to be measured is the number of verbs per minute after treatment.
Who are they looking for?
This trial will be recruiting 90 stroke survivors with non-fluent aphasia. Patients must be fluent in English, must be within 6 months of the stroke incident.
These participants must not have a history of chronic brain or mental disease, severe dysarthria (weakness of facial muscles involved in speech), history of strokes on the right side of the brain, loss of hearing, or vision. Female participants must not be pregnant and patients who cannot undergo an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) also cannot participate.
How will it work
There will be 4 groups in this trial. Participants will either receive 3, 4.5, 6 weeks of SET treatment or no therapy. Treatment will consist of practicing fluent speech with audio/visual computer program.
The main outcome will be the change in a speech before and after treatment, by measuring the number of verbs per minute.
