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

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This randomized controlled comparative effectiveness study examines manipulation of a key component of an established and efficacious treatment for naming impairments in aphasia, along with cognitive and brain correlates of treatment success. Study participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions comparing two different versions of Semantic Feature Analysis treatment. Their performance on standardized and study-specific measures will be used to determine which version of the treatment provides superior outcomes, and measures of automatic language processing and functional brain imaging will also be used to identify the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms associated with positive treatment response.

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.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment for Aphasia?

Research shows that Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) treatment helps people with aphasia improve their ability to name objects, both for words they practice and some related words they don't practice. Studies also suggest that the more features patients generate during treatment, the better their naming skills improve, especially for the words they directly work on. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment for Aphasia safe for humans?

The research articles reviewed do not provide specific safety data for Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment for Aphasia, but they focus on its effectiveness in improving naming abilities in individuals with aphasia. There are no reported safety concerns in the studies, suggesting it is generally considered safe for use in humans. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

What makes Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment unique for aphasia?

Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment is unique because it focuses on improving word retrieval by having patients generate and analyze semantic features (characteristics and meanings) of words, which can enhance naming abilities for both treated and related untreated words. This approach is different from other treatments as it emphasizes patient involvement in generating features and can be modified to include fewer features or combined with other strategies like working memory tasks to improve outcomes. ^{1 2 3 4 8}

Research Team

William D Hula, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Patrick J Doyle, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Eligibility Criteria

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

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)

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Systematic Review of Semantic Feature Analysis Therapy Studies for Aphasia. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of a modified semantic features analysis approach in aphasia. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Semantic Feature Type, Diversity, and Quantity on Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment Outcomes in Aphasia. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Incorporating Metacognitive Strategy Training Into Semantic Treatment Promotes Restitutive and Substitutive Gains in Naming: A Single-Subject Investigation. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acquisition and Generalization Responses in Aphasia Naming Treatment: A Meta-Analysis of Semantic Feature Analysis Outcomes. [2020]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Semantic Feature Analysis: Further Examination of Outcomes. [2019]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of commonality, distinctiveness and importance of semantic features in persons with aphasia. [2014]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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