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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06891638

Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and Phonomotor Therapy

This study is designed for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors, making it difficult to read, speak, and understand language. Up to 70% of people with aphasia struggle with reading, which impacts their ability to communicate, work, and engage in daily life.

The study aims to test a new approach to reading rehabilitation by combining Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT), a language therapy adapted to improve reading, with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and painless brain stimulation technique. tDCS delivers a mild electrical current to the brain, which may enhance learning. This study will assess whether adding tDCS to PMT improves reading therapy outcomes.

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke Aphasia Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Communication Disorders Dyslexia Language Disorders Learning Disabilities Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurodevelopmental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Specific Learning Disorder Speech Disorders Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey, United States

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About this study

This study aims to improve reading rehabilitation for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors. The goal is to determine whether adding transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and painless brain stimulation technique, to Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT), a language therapy adapted for reading, enhances treatment effectiveness.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, each receiving different combinations of PMT and tDCS over six weeks. Some will receive active tDCS at different points in therapy, while others will receive a placebo (sham) version. By comparing how the timing of tDCS affects reading improvement, this study aims to optimize treatment strategies for individuals with aphasia.

Reading and language skills will be assessed before, during, and after treatment using standardized tests to measure progress. The study will take place at two sites: Kessler Foundation and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), where participants will complete therapy sessions.

Findings from this research may help develop more effective and accessible treatments for stroke survivors with aphasia, improving their ability to read and communicate.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Chronic (>6 months) left-hemisphere stroke
  • Aphasia diagnosis.
  • Deficits in reading aloud.

Exclusion criteria

  • Eye condition not correctable with lenses and interfering with reading (e.g., blindness)
  • Severe apraxia of speech or cognitive deficits preventing participation.
  • Participation in one-on-one aphasia rehabilitation during the study period.
  • Brain disorders other than stroke (such as Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, etc)
  • Contraindications of tDCS or MRI
  • Skin condition affecting the scull (e.g., psoriasis) or open wounds at the stimulation site.
  • Presence of metallic implants (e.g., cardiac stimulators or pacemakers, cochlear implants)
  • History of ongoing/unmanaged seizers
  • Pregnancy
  • Claustrophobia
  • Inability to lie flat on the back

Treatment and study plan

Schedule of tDCS administration

Device

This study evaluates the combined effects of Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for reading rehabilitation in post-stroke aphasia. Unlike standard speech therapy, this intervention integrates non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance language recovery by modulating neural activity in perilesional areas. We hypothesize that active tDCS will enhance PMT efficacy, leading to greater improvements in reading competence and phonological processing compared to sham tDCS. Through systematic testing across the 3 study arms, we expect to identify the most effective stimulation timing.

Primary outcomes

  1. Reading aloud accuracy

    Time frame: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment

    Participants will read words and pronounceable pseudowords that appear one at a time on the computer screen. Each testing session will be audio recorded and independently scored by 2 raters, with ties resolved by a 3rd rater.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Reading Comprehension Battery for Aphasia 2nd Edition

    Time frame: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment

    Participants will complete a standardized language assessment.

  2. Western Aphasia Battery

    Time frame: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment

    Participants will complete a standardized language assessment.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kessler Foundation

Other

Collaborators

  • Medical College of Wisconsin

Registry information

Official study title

Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and PMT

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 24, 2025
Registry last updated
May 8, 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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