Theory-Driven Treatment of Language and Cognitive Processes in Aphasia

Aphasia Clinical Trial

Official title:

Theory-Driven Treatment of Language and Cognitive Processes in Aphasia

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Enrolling by invitation

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02664506
• Other study ID #: 21987
• Secondary ID: 5R01DC013196
• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 2014
• Est. completion date: November 30, 2025

Study information

• Verified date: April 2024
• Source: Temple University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The aim of this research is to translate a theory of the cognitive relationship between verbal short--term memory (STM) and word processing impairments in aphasia to treatment approaches for language impairment in aphasia. It has been proposed that the co-occurrence of these impairments is due to a disruption of cognitive processes that support both abilities: maintenance of activated semantic and phonological representations of words, hereafter the 'activation--maintenance hypothesis'.

This hypothesis will be tested in the context of a treatment approach that aims to improve word processing and verbal STM abilities. The grant supporting this work has ended. therefore, participants are entered into the study by invitation only.

Description:

Based on research of word processing and verbal STM impairments in aphasia, it has been proposed that the co-occurrence of these impairments is due to a disruption of cognitive processes that support both abilities: maintenance of activated semantic and phonological representations of words, hereafter the 'activation--maintenance hypothesis'.

This hypothesis will be tested in the context of a treatment approach that aims to improve word processing and verbal STM abilities. Recently, the importance of treatment research has been emphasized as a critical testing ground for theories of language processing. Although it has been demonstrated that associations between impairments of word processing and reduced verbal STM capacity support the 'activation-maintenance hypothesis', direct treatments to improve the ability to maintain activation of word representations will serve as a stronger test of this hypothesis. First, empirical support will be established for the hypothesis that impairment to short-term maintenance of activated semantic and phonological representations of words impairs language and verbal STM abilities in aphasia and that direct treatment of this deficit will improve both abilities (Specific Aim 1). Second, the effects of this treatment will be compared under two administration conditions, high and low intensity (Specific aim 2). Finally, the neural regions associated with semantic STM and phonological STM will be investigated using voxel--based lesion--symptom mapping (Bates et al., 2003) (Specific Aim 3).

This research represents a unique attempt to apply more recent processing theories of aphasia to treatment of the disorder.The outcomes will have important implications for aphasia rehabilitation research.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Enrollment: 130
• Est. completion date: November 30, 2025
• Est. primary completion date: November 30, 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 21 Years to 80 Years

Eligibility

Experimental participants:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aphasia

• Single left hemisphere lesions

• Right handed

• At least six months post-stroke

• Aged 21 to 80

• High-school educated with English as their primary language

• Passed an audiometric pure tone, air conduction screening at 25 dB HL at 1K, 2K and 4K Hz for at least one ear (with or without correction)

• Demonstrate adequate vision with or without correction.

• Will not exclude individuals with a mild apraxia of speech or mild dysarthria of speech.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of mental illness

• Alcohol/substance abuse

• Pregnant

• Unable to personally give informed consent

Control participants:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 21 to 80

• High school educated or above

• Pass an audiometric pure tone, air conduction screening at 25 dB HL at 1K, 2K and 4K Hz for at least one ear.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of neurological disease or language disability

• Histories for mental illness

• Alcohol/substance abuse.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aphasia

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Word repetition after a time delay.
This is a behavioral intervention, Word repetition after a time delay. Individuals listen to words and repeat them after 5 or 10 seconds.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Temple University	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Temple University	National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), University of Pennsylvania

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change from Baseline Verbal Short-Term Memory (STM) Span at 6 weeks	It is expected that this treatment will increase verbal STM span (primary)	Baseline and 6 weeks
Secondary	Change in proportion of words retrieved in picture naming	More words will be retrieved accurately in picture naming.	Post treatment, after 6 weeks of treatment
Secondary	Discourse measures, changes in rates of context information units	Proportion of content information units will increase as a consequence of htis therapy.	Post treatment, after 6 weeks of treatment