Rhythm-Based Therapy for Aphasia

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ohio State University

Disqualifiers: Less than six months post-stroke, metal in body, other neurological disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a new rhythm-based therapy to assist people with aphasia, a language disorder that makes speaking difficult. The goal is to determine if rhythm, rather than melody, can improve speech fluency. Participants will practice speaking through an engaging video game that uses rhythm. The trial seeks individuals who had a stroke more than six months ago, can name a few items, and have good motor function on the left side. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative therapy and contribute to groundbreaking research.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this rhythm-based intervention is safe for aphasia treatment?

Research has shown that rhythm-based therapies, like the one being studied, are generally safe. Studies have found that these therapies can improve speech in people with aphasia, with few side effects. For example, one study demonstrated that combining gentle brain stimulation with speech training improved language skills in stroke patients with aphasia and caused very few negative effects.

The current trial tests a new rhythm-based treatment. Although it's still early, research on similar music-based therapies suggests they are well-tolerated. Focusing on rhythm appears promising and has been linked to positive results in language recovery without major safety concerns. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about rhythm-based therapy for aphasia because it introduces a unique approach to speech production by incorporating rhythmic activity. Unlike conventional speech therapy, which focuses solely on practicing speech without rhythm, this method leverages the brain's natural response to rhythm to potentially enhance speech recovery. This innovative therapy could offer a new pathway for patients to regain their language skills more effectively.

What evidence suggests that this rhythm-based intervention is effective for aphasia?

Research has shown that rhythm-based activities can assist people with aphasia, a condition that makes communication difficult. In this trial, participants will join different treatment arms to evaluate rhythm's effectiveness in therapy. One arm will involve a rhythm-based intervention, where participants practice speech production daily through rhythmic activity. Studies have found that rhythm can improve speech fluency. Another arm will involve a non-rhythm intervention, which is conventional speech production therapy without rhythmic activities. One review found that music-based activities, like rhythmic exercises, can greatly boost language skills. Another study noted that music therapy helped patients better repeat words and phrases. Overall, these findings suggest that using rhythm in therapy helps people with aphasia speak more clearly. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Yune Lee, PhD

Principal Investigator

UT Dallas

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who have aphasia, a language disorder, after experiencing a stroke at least six months ago. Participants should be able to move their left side and name some items but must not have other neurological diseases.

Inclusion Criteria

My left side's limb movement is mostly normal.

I do not have any neurological diseases.

This criterion requires the ability to name a few items.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive rhythm-based language therapy using the TheraBeat game for aphasia treatment

8 weeks

Home-based intervention

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Rhythm-based Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests a rhythm-based speech therapy app called Speech Hero. It aims to improve speech fluency in people with aphasia by using rhythmic patterns through an engaging video game platform.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Rhythm intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Practice speech production daily through rhythmic activity

Group II: Non-rhythm intervention Active Control 2 Interventions

Conventional speech production therapy without the use of rhythmic activities

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

The University of Texas at Dallas

Lead Sponsor

Trials

71

Recruited

108,000+

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12309435/

Music‐based interventions for nonfluent aphasia: A systematic ... This systematic review analyzes 10 randomized control trials of music‐based interventions (MBIs) for nonfluent aphasia, including Melodic Intonation Therapy and ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04581564

NCT04581564 | Rhythm-based Intervention in Aphasia Here, we propose a highly interdisciplinary approach to study the neural mechanisms of language recovery in aphasia through a novel rhythm-based language ...

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2024.1395312/full

Neurologic music therapy for non-fluent aphasia Results: A total of 11 studies with 329 patients were included. NMT had a positive effect on repetition ability (SMD = 0.37, 95%CI [0.12, 0.62], ...

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/1/84

A Review on Music Interventions for Frontotemporal ... This study aims, primarily, to establish the state of the art of music-based interventions designed for PPA due to FTD and, secondarily, to inform the planning ...

5. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/5/1/fcac337/6961462

Efficacy of a multicomponent singing intervention on ... This study provides novel evidence that group-based multicomponent singing training can enhance communication and spoken language production in chronic aphasia

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8829877/

Melodic Intonation Therapy on Non-fluent Aphasia After Stroke This review aimed at systematizing recent results from studies that have delved explicitly into the MIT effect on non-fluent aphasia.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10783273/

The effectiveness and safety of noninvasive brain stimulation ... The NIBS technique combined with speech training can effectively improve the recovery of language function in PSA patients with minimal adverse effects.

8. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/5/899

The Effect of Music-Based Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation ... This study suggests that the effects of music-based rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on balance ability and motor function varies depending on the scale or ...