Clinical Feasibility of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation [tDCS] With Standard Aphasia Therapy

Summary

Study Design: This is a within-subjects crossover design. Subjects will participate in the procedures twice, once under each condition (active vs. sham stimulation). The order of conditions will be counter-balanced across subjects. Stimulation will target ventral inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and will be paired with standard speech-language therapy. Outcome measures will be acquired at the beginning and end of a semester of standard speech-language therapy.

Conditions

• Aphasia
• Stroke

Interventions

DEVICE

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation

2 mA of A-tDCS stimulation is induced between two 5 cm x 7 cm saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode: A-tDCS) is placed on the scalp over the targeted cortical region. Ramping up of the current to 2 mA occurs over 30 seconds to allow participants to habituate to the tingling sensation. A-tDCS stimulation will be active only in the first 20 minutes of the 60-minute treatment session.

DEVICE

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation

2 mA of A-tDCS stimulation is induced between two 5 cm x 7 cm saline soaked sponges where one sponge (anode: A-tDCS) is placed on the scalp over the targeted cortical region. Ramping up of the current to 2 mA occurs over 30 seconds to allow participants to habituate to the tingling sensation. Then, the current will be ramped back down to 0 mA in the sham condition.

BEHAVIORAL

Speech-language therapy

Therapy tasks will be determined by the clinician on an individualized basis and will not be affected by this research protocol. The only difference between the clinical therapy that is normally provided in the clinic and this research paradigm is the application of tDCS electrodes during therapy. Therapist is blinded to stimulation type.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Louisiana State University and A&M College

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• E. Susan Duncan, PhD, CCC-SLP · Lousiana State University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-08-31

Primary Completion

2021-06-30

Completion

2023-06-30

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations