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N/A N=38 Randomized Quadruple-blind Treatment

Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Improve Post-Stroke Aphasia

Aphasia

Enrolled (actual)
38
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jul 2017
Primary outcome: Primary: Western Aphasia Battery - Revised: Naming and Word Finding Score — .30; .48 scores on a scale — p=.57

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
N/A
Interventions
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Device); Sham Stimulation (Device)
Age
Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
Georgetown University
Primary completion
Jul 2015

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Western Aphasia Battery - Revised: Naming and Word Finding Score
.30; .48 .57
SECONDARY
Western Aphasia Battery - Revised: Spontaneous Speech, Repetition, Auditory Verbal Comprehension and Overall Aphasia Quotient
7.6; 7.1; 7.8; 7.0; 5.5; 6.2
SECONDARY
Philadelphia Naming Test (PNT)
31.3; 32.1; 34.1; 34.9 .64
SECONDARY
Subjective Assessments Including: Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI), Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL), and Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (SADQ)
1.2; 1.58; 1.0; 1.3; 2.7; 2.6
SECONDARY
Cognitive-Linguistic Quick Test (CLQT)
150.0; 175.5; 155.9; 184.9; 21.9; 23.7
SECONDARY
Reading Assessments
89.1; 85.1; 89.7; 87.3; 6.1; 8.9
SECONDARY
Motricity Index
33; 33; 33; 33; 33; 33

Summary

This study tests whether weak electrical stimulation of the brain is effective in improving language or reading difficulties occurring after a brain injury or stroke.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 18 or older
  • Aphasia due to left hemisphere stroke diagnosed by a physician or speech-language pathologist

Exclusion Criteria

  • Skull defect at or near the site of tDCS delivery
  • History of a significant stroke or traumatic brain injury other than the event that caused the aphasia
  • History of other brain conditions that could impact interpretation of results (such as multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, encephalitis, premorbid dementia)
  • Presence of implanted electrical or metallic devices in the head or body (except titanium; e.g. cochlear implants, implanted shunts with metal parts, deep brain stimulators, pacemakers, defibrillators)
  • Presence of ferrous metal in the head (e.g. shrapnel)
  • History of psychiatric disease requiring hospitalization, electroconvulsive therapy, or ongoing medication use (other than common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants)
  • Pregnancy
  • Severe comprehension deficits

Additional Exclusion Criteria for the optional MRI portion of the study:

  • Presence of metal in the body (except titanium)
  • Claustrophobia
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01709383). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.

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