Classical Conditioning Training for Aphasia. A Telemedicine Approach.

This study aimed at investigating the suitability of a classical conditioning for the treatment of anomic disorder. In this study 12 patients suffering from pure anomia in the chronic stage of the disease underwent a word repetition training with a computerized telemedicine protocol. Each patient trained two word sets, one in a conditioned and the other in a non-conditioned training modality; a third non trained set served as control set.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Aphasia Communication Disorders Language Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Speech Disorders

Age range

25 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

In this study, a computer based word repetition protocol was administered at the distance to 12 pure anomic patients in the chronic stage of the disease. The to be repeated words were presented alongside the corresponding pictures. The timing of word and picture presentation was manipulated in order to investigate the suitability of classical conditioning to reteach the association between pictures and their names. Data were analyzed at the group and at the single subject level with the aim of establishing the relative efficacy of the conditioned and non-conditioned word-repetition modality and the cognitive features predicting therapy success. In keeping with preliminary results obtained on a single case study, conditioning turned out to improve therapy gain at the group level. Moreover, hints were found suggesting less generalization to untreated words in conditioned compared to non-conditioned training. Non-word repetition skills was the only feature in the participants cognitive profile which was reliably linked to the therapy outcome.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Aphasic patients with word finding difficulty
Must be able to repeat single words

Exclusion criteria

Severe cognitive impairment
Impaired single word comprehension

Treatment and study plan

Conditioned word repetition training

Behavioral

In the classical conditioning training the onset of the visual stimulus preceded that of the auditory stimulus with a short onset asynchrony, and both stimuli co-terminated. By contrast, in the training without conditioning the auditory stimulus was administered first and the visual stimulus appeared short after the off-set of the auditory one.

Primary outcomes

Training effect in the treated word set

Time frame: immediately before and immediately after the training protocol (duration of the training protocol: 6 weeks)

Differences between accuracy pre and post in the treated word set

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Improving Word Repetition Training Using Classical Conditioning With a Computer Based Telemedicine Approach: Evidence From a Study on 12 Person With Chronic Aphasia.

Important dates

Study start: 2014
Primary completion: 2017
Study completion: 2017
First posted: Dec 22, 2017
Registry last updated: Dec 26, 2017

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed