Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and Phonomotor Therapy

NCT06891638 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: R-1290-25
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 6
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Stroke; Aphasia

Keywords

Aphasia; Post-stroke rehabilitation; Reading impairment; Language therapy; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS); Phonomotor Treatment (PMT); Brain stimulation therapy; Neurorehabilitation; Randomized controlled trial (RCT); Non-invasive brain stimulation; Neuromodulation; Speech and language therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Reading aloud accuracy

  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.

  before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Reading Comprehension Battery for Aphasia 2nd Edition

  before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment

• Western Aphasia Battery

  before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment

Study Arms (3)

Early tDCS

EXPERIMENTAL

This group will undergo Active tDCS + PMT for weeks 1-3 and Sham tDCS + PMT for weeks 4-6.

Device: Schedule of tDCS administration

Late tDCS

SHAM COMPARATOR

This group will undergo Sham tDCS + PMT for weeks 1-3 and Active tDCS + PMT for weeks 4-6.

Device: Schedule of tDCS administration

Interleaved tDCS

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group will receive PMT + Active/Sham tDCS on alternate days for 6 weeks.

Device: Schedule of tDCS administration

Interventions

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.

Early tDCS; Interleaved tDCS; Late tDCS

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kessler Foundation: lead
• Medical College of Wisconsin: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Kessler Foundation

West Orange, New Jersey, 07052, United States

Location

Medical College of Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stroke; Aphasia; Dyslexia; Communication Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Director, Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2025
• First Posted: March 24, 2025
• Study Start: May 12, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 14, 2026
• Study Completion: February 14, 2026
• Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

US (2)