Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and Phonomotor Therapy

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Stroke, Aphasia

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06891638

Run by

Kessler Foundation

People needed

6

Starts

2025-05-12

Expected to finish

2026-02-14

Last updated by the study team

2026-05-08

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

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

Where it is running

• Kessler Foundation — West Orange, New Jersey, United States
• Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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