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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02901574

Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Aphasia Treatment

People with post-stroke aphasia are left with some degree of chronic deficit for which current rehabilitative treatments are variably effective. This study investigates the behavioral and neural effects of multiple consecutive cerebellar tDCS sessions coupled with computerized naming therapy in stroke survivors with aphasia.

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Nervous System Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–100 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States

About this study

The investigators will study the effect of right cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) stimulation during language therapy for naming in individuals with chronic aphasia (>6 months post stroke). Naming difficulties are a persistent and common symptom in aphasia after left-hemisphere (LH) stroke. Although the interventions to improve naming can have benefits, a massive number of treatment sessions is usually required to show gains, particularly in individuals with chronic, large LH stroke. tDCS is a promising adjunct to traditional language therapy. tDCS is a safe, non-invasive, non-painful electrical stimulation of the brain which modulates cortical excitability by application of weak electrical currents in the form of direct current brain polarization. It is usually administered via saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes attached to the scalp and connected to a direct current stimulator with low intensities. Prior investigators have mainly focused on the role of LH in language recovery, wherein the electrode is placed in the left frontal or temporal region. However, in individuals with large lesions involving key language areas like the frontal and temporal cortex, it may be difficult to find viable tissue to stimulate in the LH. This study uses a novel electrode placement for chronic stroke patients with aphasia with large LH lesions. Targeting the intact right cerebellum allows for the possibility of identifying a single target that can be used across groups of people with aphasia with varying lesion sites and size in the LH. Evidence from functional neuroimaging and clinical studies indicate that the right cerebellum is important for both language and cognitive functions.

The investigators will utilize a randomized, double-blind, sham controlled, within-subject crossover trial design. A random subset (half) of participants will be assigned to the "anode" group (Group Anode) and other half will be assigned to the 'cathode' group (Group Cathode). Participants will take part in 2 intervention periods of 15 computerized naming training sessions (3-5 sessions per week), with either tDCS + naming therapy or sham+ naming therapy, separated by 2 months. Detailed language evaluation will take place before, immediately after, 2 weeks and 2 months post-intervention for each condition. The investigators will test the hypothesis that anodal tDCS or cathodal tDCS over the cerebellum and computerized naming therapy is associated with greater gains in accuracy in naming pictures, compared to sham combined with the same computerized naming therapy.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants must have sustained a left hemisphere stroke.
  • Participants must be fluent speakers of English by self-report.
  • Participants must be capable of giving informed consent or indicating another to provide informed consent.
  • Participants must be age 18 or older.
  • Participants must be premorbidly right handed.
  • Participants must be at least 6 months post stroke.
  • Participants must have an aphasia diagnosis as confirmed by the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE) Short Form.
  • Participants must achieve at least 65% accuracy on screening task (comparable to treatment task) on 1 of 3 attempts

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants with lesion involving the right cerebellum
  • Previous neurological or psychiatric disease.
  • Seizures during the previous 12 months.
  • Uncorrected visual loss or hearing loss by self-report.
  • Use of medications that lower the seizure threshold (e.g., methylphenidate, amphetamine salts).
  • Use of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) antagonists (e.g., memantine).
  • > 80% (140 out of 175) correct responses on the Philadelphia Naming Test at baseline.
  • History of brain surgery or any metal in the head.
  • Scalp sensitivity (per participant report).

Treatment and study plan

Anodal or Cathodal tDCS

Device

2 mA or Anodal or Cathodal tDCS stimulation is induced between 5cm X5 cm saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode in group anode or cathode in group cathode) is placed on the right cerebellum. The stimulation will be delivered at an intensity of 2 mA in a ramp-like fashion for a maximum of 20 minutes.

SHAM

Device

2 mA of Anodal tDCS or Cathodal tDCS is induced between two 5cm X 5cn saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode in group Anode and cathode in group Cathode) is placed on the right cerebellum. Ramping up of the current to 2 mA occurs over 15-30 seconds to allow participants to habituate to the tingling sensation. Then, the current will be ramped back down to 0 mA in the sham condition. Termination of the stimulation after the ramping up process is generally undetectable, and the brief duration of stimulation yields no functional effects.

Computerized naming therapy

Behavioral

Computer delivered naming treatment requires matching (heard and seen being produced by the speaker) with pictures depicting common objects. It is run on a laptop computer with headphones and 2 large response buttons. During treatment, a picture appears on the laptop screen for 2 seconds. Then, a video of the speaker's face below the nose is presented on the screen saying a word that either matches or does not match the picture. The participant is instructed to press a green response button if the word matches the picture and press the red button if the word does not match the picture.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT) Pre-treatment to Post-treatment

    Time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.

    To determine whether tDCS coupled with computerized naming therapy will improve naming performance of participants with post stroke aphasia more effectively than naming therapy alone (i.e., the sham condition).The PNT is a 175-item picture naming test where a person earns one point per each correct answer. Scores range from 0-175 with higher scores associated with better performance.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT)Pre-treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment.

    Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment

    To determine whether tDCS coupled with computerized naming therapy will improve naming performance of participants with post stroke aphasia more effectively than naming therapy alone (i.e., the sham condition).The PNT is a 175-item picture naming test where a person earns one point per each correct answer. Scores range from 0-175 with higher scores associated with better performance.

  2. Change in Accuracy of Naming Untrained Pictures (Philadelphia Naming Test:PNT) Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment.

    Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment

    To determine whether tDCS coupled with computerized naming therapy will improve naming performance of participants with post stroke aphasia more effectively than naming therapy alone (i.e., the sham condition).The PNT is a 175-item picture naming test where a person earns one point per each correct answer. Scores range from 0-175 with higher scores associated with better performance.

  3. Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to Post-treatment

    Time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.

    The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered at Pre- treatment and Post-treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills.The ASHA-FACS Communication Independence scale measures functional communication performance along a continuum of independence, in terms of levels of assistance and/or prompting needed in-order to communicate. The 7-point scale ranges from 1) "does not perform the behavior" to 7) "does perform the behavior". Higher scores means better functional communication independence.

    of communication independence Scale (CI)

  4. Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment

    Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment

    The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre- treatment and 2 weeks post treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills.The ASHA-FACS Communication Independence scale measures functional communication performance along a continuum of independence, in terms of levels of assistance and/or prompting needed in-order to communicate. The 7-point scale ranges from 1) "does not perform the behavior" to 7) "does perform the behavior". Higher scores means better functional communication independence.

  5. Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Communication Independence Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment

    Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment

    The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre- treatment and 2 months post treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills.The ASHA-FACS Communication Independence scale measures functional communication performance along a continuum of independence, in terms of levels of assistance and/or prompting needed in-order to communicate. The 7-point scale ranges from 1) "does not perform the behavior" to 7) "does perform the behavior". Higher scores means better functional communication independence.

  6. Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-treatment to Post-treatment

    Time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment.

    The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre-treatment and post-treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills. The ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale is rated on a 5-point scale reflecting adequacy, appropriateness, and promptness of communication and communication sharing.

    The 5-point scale ranges from 1) "communication is never relevant/without delay" to 5) "communication is always relevant/ without delay". Higher scores means better functional communication outcome.

  7. Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-Treatment to 2 Week Post-Treatment

    Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment

    The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre-treatment and 2 weeks post-treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills. The ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale is rated on a 5-point scale reflecting adequacy, appropriateness, and promptness of communication and communication sharing. The 5-point scale ranges from 1) "communication is never relevant/without delay" to 5) "communication is always relevant/ without delay". Higher scores means better functional communication outcome.

  8. Change in Functional Communication Skills on the ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment

    Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment

    The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) will be administered pre-treatment and 2 months post-treatment to evaluate changes in functional communication skills. The ASHA-FACS Qualitative Dimensions of Communication Scale is rated on a 5-point scale reflecting adequacy, appropriateness, and promptness of communication and communication sharing. The 5-point scale ranges from 1) "communication is never relevant/without delay" to 5) "communication is always relevant/ without delay". Higher scores means better functional communication outcome.

  9. Change in Discourse Ability Pre-treatment to Post-treatment.

    Time frame: Before and after 15 sessions (3-5 sessions per week; up to 5 weeks) of treatment

    The investigators will record the administration of the Cinderella Story Discourse Analysis task to compare changes in core production of words from pre-treatment to post-treatment.

    The investigators will transcribe the story told by participants at pre and post-treatment and count the total number of words produced on a Core Lexicon checklist. There are 95 words on the Core Lexicon checklist which conveys the story of Cinderella. A person earns one point for each word produced from the checklist when telling the story. Production scores range from 0-95 with higher scores associated with better performance on this discourse task.

  10. Change in Discourse Ability Pre- Treatment to 2 Weeks Post-treatment.

    Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 weeks Post-treatment

    The investigators will record the administration of the Cinderella Story Discourse Analysis task to compare changes in core production of words from pre- treatment to 2 weeks post treatment.

    The investigators will transcribe the story told by participants at pre and post-treatment and count the total number of words produced on a Core Lexicon checklist. There are 95 words on the Core Lexicon checklist which conveys the story of Cinderella. A person earns one point for each word produced from the checklist when telling the story. Production scores range from 0-95 with higher scores associated with better performance on this discourse task.

  11. Change in Discourse Ability Pre-treatment to 2 Months Post-treatment.

    Time frame: Pre-treatment and at 2 months Post-treatment

    The investigators will record the administration of the Cinderella Story Discourse Analysis task to compare changes in core production of words from Pre-treatment to 2 months Post-treatment.

    The investigators will transcribe the story told by participants at pre and 2 months post-treatment and count the total number of words produced on a Core Lexicon checklist. There are 95 words on the Core Lexicon checklist which conveys the story of Cinderella. A person earns one point for each word produced from the checklist when telling the story. Production scores range from 0-95 with higher scores associated with better performance on this discourse task.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Registry information

Official study title

Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Augment Chronic Aphasia Treatment

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Sep 15, 2016
Registry last updated
Apr 21, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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