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NCT Number: NCT07036406

Comparing Traditional Semantic Feature Analysis (tSFA) and Semantic Feature Analysis + Metacognitive Strategy Training (SFA+MST)

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of traditional Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) treatment to a modified SFA protocol that includes Metacognitive Strategy Training (SFA+MST) for adults with acquired aphasia. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* What are the comparative outcomes in picture naming accuracy and strategy use during picture naming following 2 months of traditional SFA versus SFA + MST in adults with acquired aphasia? * What are the comparative outcomes in percent of informative content and rate of informative content during spontaneous speech production following 2 months of traditional SFA versus SFA + MST in adults with acquired aphasia?

Researchers will compare outcomes between these two treatments to see if SFA+MST yields larger effects in picture naming and spontaneous speech outcomes than traditional SFA.

Participants will complete:

* 5-7 pre-treatment assessment sessions where they will be asked to name pictures, tell stories/describe pictures, answer questions, and complete questionnaires, * 3 treatment sessions of SFA *OR* SFA+MST per week for 8 weeks, for a total of 24 sessions, * 7 weekly probes (i.e., short, intermittent assessments throughout the treatment phase), * 3 post-treatment assessment sessions immediately after treatment ends, where they will complete the same assessment tasks as they did pre-treatment (e.g., naming pictures, telling stories, etc.), * 2 retention assessment sessions, one 30 days and the other 60 days following the final treatment session, where they will be asked to name pictures, tell stories/describe pictures, and describe what they learned during the study.

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Key information

Conditions

Aphasia Anomia Aphasia Following Cerebral Infarction Aphasia Non Fluent Aphasia, Acquired Aphasia, Anomic Aphasia, Broca Aphasia, Conduction Aphasia, Expressive Aphasia, Mixed Aphasia, Rehabilitation Behavior Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Communication Communication Disorders Language Language Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Speech Disorders Stroke Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–89 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Teachers College, Columbia University

New York, 10027, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Victoria Tilton-Bolowsky, Ph.D. CCC-SLP

CONTACT

[email protected]

212-678-8302

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Have aphasia due to a single acute event (e.g., left-hemisphere stroke, traumatic brain injury)
  • Be at least six-months post aphasia-onset,
  • Be a proficient English speaker,
  • Have normal or corrected to normal hearing (i.e., hearing aids) and vision (i.e., eyeglasses),
  • Have no history of neurodegenerative disease (e.g., dementia), severe motor speech disorder, significant mental illness, psychiatric disorder, drug/alcohol abuse, or neurological condition that could influence their cognitive, language, and memory systems

Exclusion criteria

  • A history of neurodegenerative disease (e.g., dementia), severe motor speech disorder, significant mental illness, psychiatric disorder, drug/alcohol abuse, or neurological condition that could influence their cognitive, language, and memory systems,
  • Children under the age of 18,
  • Adults over the age of 89,
  • Uncorrected hearing and vision.

Treatment and study plan

Semantic Feature Analysis (traditional)

Behavioral

This treatment involves naming pictures of objects, describing the objects' features (e.g., category membership, physical attributes, etc.), and creating sentences using the objects' names. It does not include direct metacognitive strategy training.

Semantic Feature Analysis + Metacognitive Strategy Training

Behavioral

This treatment involves metacognitive teaching and practice, naming pictures of objects, describing the objects' features (e.g., category membership, physical attributes, etc), creating sentences using the objects' names, debriefing on overall performance, and discussing recent and future opportunities for strategy implementation in real life.

Primary outcomes

  1. Confrontation naming accuracy

    Time frame: Change from Baseline through study completion, an average of 6 months

    Participants will complete a 60-item confrontation naming assessment before, during, and after treatment. We will calculate the total number of items that participants name accurately across study phases.

  2. Independent word-finding strategy use

    Time frame: Change from Baseline through study completion, an average of 6 months

    Using the 60-item confrontation naming assessment, we will evaluate instances in which participants independently use a specific word-finding strategy (describing or talking around the word) in instances where they cannot name items successfully, and calculate the proportions of incorrect responses with and without strategy use across study phases.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Discourse informativeness

    Time frame: Change from Baseline through study completion, an average of 6 months

    Participants will describe picture scenes and tell stories. We will calculate the amount of informative content in their descriptions/stories using Content Information Unit (%CIU; Nicholas & Brookshire, 1993) analysis for descriptions/stories across study phases.

  2. Discourse efficiency

    Time frame: Change from Baseline through study completion, an average of 6 months

    Participants will describe picture scenes and tell stories. We will calculate the rate of informative content in their descriptions/stories using Content Information Unit (CIU/minute; Nicholas & Brookshire, 1993) analysis for descriptions/stories across study phases.

Other outcomes

  1. Explicit strategy knowledge

    Time frame: Change from Baseline through study completion, an average of 6 months

    Participants will be asked to identify what they can do in moments of word-finding difficulty and what types of information they can provide in those moments, across study phases. There are six types of information that will be discussed during the treatments.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Victoria Tilton-Bolowsky, Ph.D. CCC-SLP

CONTACT

[email protected]

212-678-8302

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Teachers College, Columbia University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Comparing the Effectiveness of Traditional Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) Versus SFA Plus Metacognitive Strategy Training (SFA+MST) for People With Acquired Aphasia

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jun 25, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 25, 2026

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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