Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment for Aphasia

Overseen By Alyssa Autenreith, M.A.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Disqualifiers: Right hemisphere stroke, Neurological disease, Psychiatric disorder, others

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 5 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests two versions of a treatment called Semantic Feature Analysis, which helps people with aphasia improve their ability to name things. Aphasia, often caused by a stroke, is a language disorder that makes speaking or understanding words difficult. Researchers aim to determine which version of the treatment works better and how it affects the brain. Ideal candidates for this trial include individuals who experienced a left-side stroke causing aphasia at least six months ago and can manage daily tasks independently or with assistance. Participants should not have other neurological issues and must not be in any other speech therapy during the study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could enhance future aphasia treatments.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it does require that you do not participate in any other speech-language treatment during the study.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) is an effective method for helping people with aphasia, a language disorder. This therapy targets naming difficulties, which are common in aphasia.

Studies have found that SFA is generally well-received. For example, one study found that participants who underwent SFA therapy improved their ability to name items by about 20% for practiced items. This suggests that SFA can be both safe and effective for enhancing language skills in people with aphasia.

These studies have reported no major side effects, highlighting the safety of SFA for people with aphasia. As a form of speech therapy rather than a new drug, this treatment generally carries lower risks compared to medication-based treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) Treatment for aphasia because it offers a unique approach to improving language abilities. Unlike traditional speech therapy that may focus broadly on communication skills, SFA specifically enhances the patient's ability to retrieve and produce words by exploring their semantic features—like what a word looks like or how it's used. This trial compares a modified version of SFA with the standard approach, potentially leading to more personalized and effective interventions for people with aphasia. By targeting the cognitive processes involved in word retrieval, SFA could offer faster and more robust improvements in language function.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for aphasia?

Studies have shown that Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) helps people with aphasia improve their naming abilities. It tends to work better for those with fluent aphasia, but it can also benefit those with non-fluent aphasia. Research indicates that most participants find it easier to name objects they previously struggled with after using SFA. While results can vary, the treatment generally leads to positive outcomes. This trial will compare two versions of SFA: a modified version for one group of participants and a standard version for another group, to determine which is more effective. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

William D Hula, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Patrick J Doyle, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who have aphasia due to a stroke in the left side of their brain, at least 6 months ago. They must be able to manage daily activities on their own or with help from a caregiver, and not have uncontrolled health issues like seizures. Participants should speak English as their first language and not be involved in other speech treatments during the study.

Inclusion Criteria

Sufficient auditory comprehension abilities demonstrated during screening

I am not participating in any other speech therapy during this study.

It's been 6 months since my stroke, which caused speech issues.

Exclusion Criteria

You have a serious mental health condition.

You are currently dependent on drugs or alcohol.

You have a serious problem with speaking or moving.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive 60 hours of Semantic Feature Analysis treatment over a five-week period

5 weeks

Daily sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including language, eye-tracking, and fMRI testing

8 to 12 weeks post intervention

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment

Trial Overview The study tests two versions of Semantic Feature Analysis treatment for naming impairments caused by aphasia. It's a randomized controlled trial where participants are assigned randomly to one of the two treatment groups to see which is more effective.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SFA Experimental Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A modified version of Semantic Feature Analysis will be administered.

Group II: SFA Active Comparator Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

A standard version of Semantic Feature Analysis will be administered.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Lead Sponsor

Trials

36

Recruited

15,900+

Penn State University

Collaborator

Trials

380

Recruited

131,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) has been shown to improve naming abilities in 81.82% of participants with aphasia, based on a review of 21 studies involving 55 individuals.

The studies reviewed demonstrated a small treatment effect, indicating that while SFA is beneficial, further research is needed to better understand its efficacy and how well improvements generalize to everyday communication.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Systematic Review of Semantic Feature Analysis Therapy Studies for Aphasia. Efstratiadou, EA., Papathanasiou, I., Holland, R., et al.[2019]

The study demonstrated that a working memory and modified Semantic Feature Analysis approach was successfully completed by all three participants with mild to moderate aphasia, indicating its feasibility for this population.

Participants showed significant improvements in naming performance and working memory abilities after treatment, suggesting that this approach may effectively help remediate word finding deficits in individuals with aphasia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using a combined working memory - Semantic feature analysis approach to treat anomia in aphasia: A Pilot Study. Hashimoto, N.[2023]

The modified semantic feature analysis (SFA) treatment combined with metacognitive strategy training (MST) showed positive effects on word retrieval accuracy in individuals with aphasia, with participants experiencing small to medium improvements in retrieving both treated and related words after 24 sessions.

The incorporation of MST into SFA also led to increased independent use of strategies for communication, suggesting that this combined approach not only helps with word retrieval but also encourages individuals to apply learned strategies in real-life situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Incorporating Metacognitive Strategy Training Into Semantic Treatment Promotes Restitutive and Substitutive Gains in Naming: A Single-Subject Investigation. Tilton-Bolowsky, VE., Brock, L., Nunn, K., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 44 participants with chronic aphasia, generating more semantic features during the Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) treatment improved naming performance for trained words, but not for untrained words, indicating that feature generation is crucial for treatment effectiveness.

Aphasia severity was also found to significantly influence treatment outcomes, suggesting that future research should focus on identifying individuals who may not respond well to therapy and exploring ways to enhance their treatment results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Semantic Feature Type, Diversity, and Quantity on Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment Outcomes in Aphasia. Evans, WS., Cavanaugh, R., Gravier, ML., et al.[2021]

The meta-analysis of 12 studies involving 35 participants with aphasia found that semantic feature analysis (SFA) significantly improved naming accuracy during treatment compared to baseline, indicating its efficacy as a therapeutic intervention.

Higher dosages of SFA treatment were associated with greater improvements in naming performance, particularly for treated stimuli, while individual factors like the degree of language impairment influenced treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acquisition and Generalization Responses in Aphasia Naming Treatment: A Meta-Analysis of Semantic Feature Analysis Outcomes. Quique, YM., Evans, WS., Dickey, MW.[2020]

Semantic feature analysis significantly improved word retrieval in 4 out of 5 participants with chronic aphasia, demonstrating its efficacy as a treatment method.

Generalization of naming skills to untrained items was observed, particularly for items that were repeatedly exposed, suggesting that practice and exposure play a crucial role in enhancing language recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Semantic Feature Analysis: Further Examination of Outcomes. DeLong, C., Nessler, C., Wright, S., et al.[2019]

Distinctive feature knowledge is crucial for individuals with aphasia, as those who can accurately choose target nouns from related foils perform better in identifying these features compared to those who struggle with this task.

The study found that the importance of features (mid vs. low) did not significantly affect performance, indicating that having distinctive features is more beneficial for semantic representation in language tasks than the importance of those features.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of commonality, distinctiveness and importance of semantic features in persons with aphasia. Mason-Baughman, MB., Wallace, SE.[2014]

A modified semantic feature analysis (SFA) approach using only three features led to improved naming abilities in a 72-year-old individual with both aphasia and apraxia of speech, demonstrating that fewer features can still be effective.

At a 6-week follow-up, the individual maintained improved naming levels compared to pre-treatment, although some decline was observed, suggesting that while the modified SFA can promote long-term improvements, ongoing support may be necessary to sustain these gains.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of a modified semantic features analysis approach in aphasia. Hashimoto, N., Frome, A.[2022]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29710193/

A Systematic Review of Semantic Feature Analysis ... Conclusions: SFA leads to positive outcomes despite the variability of treatment procedures, dosage, duration, and variations to the traditional ...

2. apps.asha.org apps.asha.org/EvidenceMaps/Articles/ArticleSummary/68f09949-63e1-4827-af5b-f808453c410c

The Effectiveness of Semantic Feature Analysis The findings also suggest that semantic feature analysis is more effective for individuals with fluent aphasia than non-fluent aphasia. However, authors noted ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877065714000451

The effectiveness of semantic feature analysis Semantic feature analysis was an effective intervention for improving confrontational naming for the majority of participants included in the current review.

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04215952

Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment for Aphasia This study will provide theoretically and clinically relevant information about how aphasia treatment should be delivered and the neurocognitive mechanisms ...

5. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1460-6984.12597

Outcomes of semantic feature analysis treatment for ... SFA has been found to be effective for improving naming of treated nouns in people with aphasia, but there is mixed evidence supporting ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33590683/

Outcomes of semantic feature analysis treatment for ... This study compares the effects of SFA in a group of individuals with aphasia alone and a group with similar severity of aphasia but with concomitant AOS.

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04215952

Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment for Aphasia This randomized controlled comparative effectiveness study examines manipulation of a key component of an established and efficacious treatment for naming ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10886986/

High-Frequency Language Therapy with Semantic Feature ... Two weeks after therapy, naming accuracy increased by an average of 20% for trained items, whereas it did not change for untrained items. Naming ...

9. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07036406?term=AREA%5BConditionSearch%5D(%22Aphasia%22)&rank=3

Comparing Traditional Semantic Feature Analysis (tSFA) ... Researchers will compare outcomes between these two treatments to see if SFA+MST yields larger effects in picture naming and spontaneous speech outcomes than ...

10. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/246428822_A_discourse-based_approach_to_semantic_feature_analysis_for_the_treatment_of_aphasic_word_retrieval_failures

A discourse-based approach to semantic feature analysis ... Semantic feature analysis was applied to object and action word retrieval failures appearing during picture descriptions and procedural questions.