Comparing Traditional Semantic Feature Analysis (tSFA) and Semantic Feature Analysis + Metacognitive Strategy Training (SFA+MST)

Launched by TEACHERS COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY · Jun 16, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying two different types of speech therapy for adults who have aphasia, a condition that affects the ability to communicate after a stroke or brain injury. The trial compares the usual treatment called Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA), which helps people name objects by focusing on their features, with a new approach that adds Metacognitive Strategy Training (MST), which teaches people to think about and use strategies to improve their speaking. Researchers want to see which treatment helps more with naming pictures and speaking more clearly and informatively in everyday conversation.

Adults who have had aphasia for at least six months after a single brain event like a stroke, speak English well, and have normal or corrected hearing and vision might be eligible to join. Participants will take part in several sessions before treatment to measure their current abilities, then attend therapy sessions three times a week for eight weeks, followed by tests during and after treatment to see any improvements. They will also have follow-up visits one and two months later to check if the progress lasts. This study aims to find better ways to support people with aphasia in regaining their communication skills.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Have aphasia due to a single acute event (e.g., left-hemisphere stroke, traumatic brain injury)
• • Be at least six-months post aphasia-onset,
• • Be a proficient English speaker,
• • Have normal or corrected to normal hearing (i.e., hearing aids) and vision (i.e., eyeglasses),
• • Have no history of neurodegenerative disease (e.g., dementia), severe motor speech disorder, significant mental illness, psychiatric disorder, drug/alcohol abuse, or neurological condition that could influence their cognitive, language, and memory systems
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • A history of neurodegenerative disease (e.g., dementia), severe motor speech disorder, significant mental illness, psychiatric disorder, drug/alcohol abuse, or neurological condition that could influence their cognitive, language, and memory systems,
• • Children under the age of 18,
• • Adults over the age of 89,
• • Uncorrected hearing and vision.