Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia with TDCS and Phonomotor Therapy

Description

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

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

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.

Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia with TDCS and PMT

Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia with TDCS and Phonomotor Therapy

Condition
Stroke
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

West Orange

Kessler Foundation, West Orange, New Jersey, United States, 07052

Milwaukee

Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Kessler Foundation,

Study Record Dates

2026-02-14