Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation + Language Therapy to Treat Subacute Aphasia

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · May 5, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new treatment for people who have developed aphasia, a language disorder, after having a stroke. The researchers want to find out if combining a technique called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) with a special type of speech therapy called modified Constraint Induced Language Therapy (mCILT) can help improve speech in people who are in the early recovery phase, about 2 to 6 weeks after their stroke. They will compare the effects of real TMS to a fake version to see if TMS really makes a difference in helping patients communicate better.

To participate in this trial, individuals must have had a stroke in the left side of the brain that caused aphasia and be between the ages of 65 and 85. They should also be able to understand the study and speak English. Participants will undergo screening and MRI scans, and then take part in ten days of treatment sessions that include both TMS and speech therapy. After the treatment, researchers will check in immediately and again four months later to see how well the treatment worked. If you or a loved one meets these criteria, this study could be an opportunity to receive potentially beneficial therapy while helping researchers learn more about effective treatments for aphasia.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Left hemisphere stroke resulting in aphasia
• • The stroke must have occurred between 2 and 6 weeks prior to enrollment
• • Must be able to understand the nature of the study, and give informed consent
• • English proficiency
• • Right-handed
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of serious and/or ongoing issues with substance abuse
• • Previous head trauma with loss of consciousness for more than 5 minutes
• • History of major psychiatric illness
• • Dementia, or other neurological conditions
• • Epilepsy, or seizure after the stroke event
• • Pacemaker
• • Diagnosis of tinnitus
• • Pregnancy