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NCT Number: NCT05667480

VR and Script Training of PWA

The goal of this intervention study is to investigate the effects of immersive virtual reality in rehabilitation of language and communication of individuals with post-stroke aphasia. The main research questions are:

1. Is VR-based script training a feasible treatment to Cantonese-speaking PWA? 2. Will VR-based script training, when compared to conventional script training, better enhance treatment outcomes in functional communication of PWA?

Participants will be assessed before, in the middle of, immediately after treatment and 8-week post treatment in terms of their performance on:

1. Accuracy and time for producing trained scripts. 2. Accuracy and time for producing un-trained scripts 3. Standardized aphasia test on severity of language impairment 4. Standardized aphasia test on functional communication

The participants will be randomly allocated to receive one of the treatment:

1. Virtual reality-based computerized script training; or 2. Computerized script training without virtual reality Researchers will compare the treatment outcomes of the two treatment conditions and see if treatment with virtual reality would better promote outcomes when compared to training without virtual reality.

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This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

30 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 852

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • a stroke onset more than six months, with an Aphasia Quotient (AQ) below 96.4, as evaluated by the Cantonese version of Western Aphasia Battery (CAB; Yiu, 1992),
  • premorbid fluent Cantonese speakers,
  • aged between 30 and 80 years,
  • no reported progressive neurogenic disorders such as dementia or Parkinson's disease,
  • no motor speech disorders of moderate to severe level, and
  • normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing functions

Exclusion criteria

  • concurrent participation in other aphasia treatment trials, and
  • incompatibility with immersive VR exposure such as complains of nausea, headache, or other severe discomforts during trial use of a head-mounted device during screening.

Treatment and study plan

VR-based script training

Behavioral

The PWA will wear a head-mounted VR device (e.g., Metaverse Oculus Quest 2 or other commercially available devices) for 30 minutes, which intends to create an immersive environment for training. Scripts trained in the computerized script training program in a particular session will be practiced. Cinematic 360˚ photo-real scenarios of daily contexts such as a restaurant or a grocery store will be displayed in the device while a communication partner, e.g., a waiter in the restaurant or a shopkeeper of a grocery store will initiate the conversation by producing the corresponding part of the script. The PWA will be given time to respond. Upon the completion of PWA's respond, the next conversational turn will be initiated. The clinical assistant, who accompanies the PWA in the entire training session, will control the flow of the 360 ˚ videos.

Conventional script training

Behavioral

The flow of training is identical to the VR condition, except that photos depicting the scenarios and pre-recorded conversational turns will be presented to the PWA on a computer screen with the same procedures mentioned in the VR condition.

Primary outcomes

  1. Percentage correct in reading aloud the sentences included in the trained scripts

    Time frame: From baseline up to 1-week post training

    Trained scripts will be shown in written form while the PWA will be asked to read aloud the scripts.

  2. Time required in read aloud of trained scripts

    Time frame: From baseline up to 1-week post training

    Total time to read aloud the trained scripts

  3. Percentage correct in spontaneous production of the sentences included in the trained scripts

    Time frame: From baseline up to 1-week post training

    No written cue will be provided while the PWA will produce the scripts upon questions.

  4. Time required for spantaneous production of trained scripts

    Time frame: From baseline up to 1-week post training

    No written cue will be provided while the PWA will produce the scripts upon questions.

Secondary outcomes

  1. CAB

    Time frame: From baseline up to 1-week post training

    Cantonese version of the Western Aphasia Battery

  2. CANELT

    Time frame: From baseline up to 1-week post training

    Cantonese version of the Amsterdam-Nijmegen Everyday Language Test (ANELT; Blomert et al., 1994)

  3. Percentage correct in producing untrained but related scripts

    Time frame: From baseline up to 1-week post training

    No written cue will be provided while the PWA will produce the untrained scripts that share similar contexts with the trained scripts.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Utilization of Immersive Virtual Reality in Computerized Script Training for People with Aphasia: a Feasibility Study

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 28, 2022
Registry last updated
Mar 13, 2025

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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