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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00494520

Cognitive Therapy to Improve Word Finding

Adults who sustain brain damage due to stroke, traumatic injury or surgery may develop difficulty finding words. This study compares the effectiveness of two behavior-based programs to improve picture naming ability in these individuals.

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Key information

Conditions

Anomia Aphasia Brain Diseases Brain Injuries Brain Injuries, Traumatic Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Accident Cerebrovascular Disorders Communication Disorders Craniocerebral Trauma Language Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Speech Disorders Stroke Trauma, Nervous System Traumatic Brain Injury Vascular Diseases Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Georgetown University Medical Center

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20057, United States

About this study

Difficulty finding words is common in patients with aphasia subsequent to left hemisphere stroke. This study will compare two cognitive therapies for the treatment of acquired word finding difficulties. The therapies use different types of cues. All participants will receive both therapies. Participants in this study will undergo a comprehensive and detailed assessment of language and other cognitive skills. The two treatments will be compared for their efficacy.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Word finding difficulty subsequent to stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain surgery or other brain damage occuring at least 6 month prior to participation
  • Ability to attend 2 sessions per week for several months at Georgetown University in Washington, DC

Exclusion criteria

  • History of learning disabilities
  • Best corrected vision less than 20/40
  • Corrected hearing within functional limits
  • Less than 10 years formal education
  • Significant memory or comprehension problems

Treatment and study plan

Errorful training condition

Procedure

Errorful training condition: Participant saw a picture and named it without any cues. If an error was produced, the cue with the least amount of information was provided (e.g. for "pumpkin", "pu"). Cues with increasing information were provided until the picture was correctly named (e.g. for "pumpkin": "pump", "pumpki", then "pumpkin"). Once the correct name was provided, the trial ended.

Errorless training condition

Procedure

Errorless learning (EL) condition: Participant saw a picture with its name, and repeated the word. The participant continued to name the picture as the auditory cues provided less and less of the word (e.g. for "banana" she would hear "banan", "bana" then "ba" and finally no cue). If an error was produced at any stage, the whole word was presented, the participant repeated it, and the trial ended.

Primary outcomes

  1. Improved picture naming of trained words.

    Time frame: Following conclusion of word treatment.

    Overall accuracy of named trained items

Secondary outcomes

  1. Improved picture naming of trained words.

    Time frame: At 6 months after conclusion of word treatment

    Overall accuracy of named trained items

  2. Improved picture naming of untrained words.

    Time frame: Following conclusion of word treatment.

    Overall accuracy of named untrained items

  3. Improved picture naming of untrained words.

    Time frame: At 6 months after conclusion of word treatment

    Overall accuracy of named untrained items

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Georgetown University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Learning Paradigms in Aphasia Rehabilitation

Important dates

Study start
2004
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Jun 29, 2007
Registry last updated
Sep 19, 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.

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