Enhancing Language Function in Aphasia Using Behavioral Language Intervention

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Aphasia is an acquired impairment of language, that commonly results from damage to language areas in the brain (typically the left side of the brain). This impairment is seen in many aspects of language, including understanding, speaking, reading and writing. It is estimated that about 2 million individuals are currently living with aphasia in the United States. Further, about 200,000 Americans acquire aphasia every year (National Aphasia Association, 2020). Aphasia poses significant impact on the affected individuals and their families. Behavioral treatments that target language deficits have been shown to enhance overall communication skills and life satisfaction among individuals with aphasia. Although there is evidence that suggests that treatment is efficacious for individuals with aphasia, the extent of improvement long-term coupled with the neural patterns among those individuals are largely unknown. The current study aims to investigate the efficacy of language-based treatment and its corresponding neural patterns.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 21
Maximum Age: 80
Healthy Volunteers: t
View:

• Present with speech-language impairment (aphasia) caused by stroke or dementia

• A medical diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) by a neurologist or physician

• Are native speakers of English

• Present with no contraindications for MRI

• Have adequate (normal or corrected to normal) vision and hearing

Locations
United States
Arizona
University of Arizona
RECRUITING
Tucson
Contact Information
Primary
Aneta Kielar, PhD
akielar@email.arizona.edu
15204883791
Backup
Fatima Jebahi, MS
fjebahi@email.arizona.edu
Time Frame
Start Date: 2022-10-30
Estimated Completion Date: 2028-12-15
Participants
Target number of participants: 30
Treatments
Experimental: Active therapy group
Participants will undergo individualized language treatment in which they will learn semantically- or phonologically based strategies to facilitate word finding difficulties, sentence formulation difficulties, or challenges in their narration and discourse. The level at which the treatment will be administered will depend on the participants' level of performance determined by the results of the language and cognitive testing done at baseline. Treatment will be administered twice a week for 10 weeks.
Active_comparator: control group
control group will undergo standard speech-language intervention
Sponsors
Leads: University of Arizona

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov