Cued Picture-Naming Therapy for Aphasia

Overseen By Grace Terry, MA, CFY-SLP

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ohio State University

Disqualifiers: Severe motor speech, auditory comprehension, depression, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

Duration: 4 weeks

120 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how genetics and cognitive abilities, such as memory, influence the response of individuals with aphasia (language problems after a stroke) to a specific word-retrieval therapy. All participants receive cued picture-naming therapy, which involves naming pictures with cues or prompts. The trial focuses on individuals who have experienced a single stroke on the left side of the brain, have ongoing aphasia, and face difficulty finding words. Participants must be native English speakers and at least six months post-stroke. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to enhance understanding and improve therapy for aphasia.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that cued picture-naming therapy is safe for aphasia patients?

Research has shown that Cued Picture-Naming Therapy is generally safe for people with aphasia. Studies have not identified any safety issues with this therapy. It uses cues, such as hints, to assist individuals in finding the right words. This method is already used to treat word-finding problems in aphasia and has been well-received by participants in past research. To date, no evidence suggests it causes harm or side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Cued picture-naming therapy is unique because it focuses on enhancing language recall by using visual and verbal cues, which is different from traditional speech therapy methods that primarily rely on repetitive verbal practice. Researchers are excited about this approach because it integrates cognitive and neurological aspects by considering genetic factors like BDNF and ApoE genotypes, which could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for individuals with aphasia. This innovative method aims to improve language function more efficiently by tapping into the brain's potential for neuroplasticity.

What evidence suggests that cued picture-naming therapy is effective for aphasia?

Research has shown that cued picture-naming therapy helps people with aphasia find words more easily. Studies have found that using both sound-based and meaning-based hints improves naming ability. This approach also enhances overall communication skills. Another study discovered that the therapy is equally effective whether conducted in person or online. Using real photos instead of drawings has proven more helpful in aphasia recovery. These findings highlight the potential benefits of cued picture-naming therapy for people with aphasia. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Stacy M Harnish, PhD

Principal Investigator

Ohio State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for native English speakers who have chronic aphasia, specifically difficulty retrieving words (anomia), due to a single left-hemisphere stroke that occurred at least six months ago. It's not suitable for those with severe comprehension issues, depression, MRI contraindications like pacemakers or metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy, severe speech disorders, widespread brain damage or uncorrected vision/hearing problems.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a native English speaker.

It has been over 6 months since my stroke in the left side of my brain.

I struggle to find the right words when speaking.

Exclusion Criteria

You have a serious difficulty understanding spoken language.

Contraindications for MRI (e.g. cardiac pacemaker, ferrous metal implants, claustrophobia, pregnancy).

You have a serious difficulty speaking clearly.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Cognitive and Genetic Assessment

Participants undergo cognitive and language assessment and provide a saliva sample for genetic analysis

1-2 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Cued picture naming therapy is delivered to all participants

4 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in picture-naming scores from post-treatment to follow-up

4 months

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cued picture-naming therapy

Trial Overview The study is exploring the effectiveness of cued picture-naming therapy in treating word-retrieval difficulties in people with aphasia. It aims to determine if two specific genes and cognitive abilities such as memory can predict how well someone will respond to this treatment.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Single Arm Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Cued picture naming therapy will be delivered to all participants. There will be four cohorts of participants based on BDNF and ApoE genotypes.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

354

Recruited

5,228,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving five aphasic subjects, using auditory cues significantly improved picture naming performance, particularly with phonetic cues, open-ended sentences, and a set of three words that included the target word.

Conversely, using semantically related words actually hindered naming performance, suggesting that not all types of cues are beneficial for individuals with aphasia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of auditory prestimulation on naming in aphasia. Podraza, BL., Darley, FL.[2019]

In a study involving 12 adult patients with chronic acquired aphasia, both semantic and phonological treatments led to significant improvements in picture naming abilities after 4 or 8 treatment sessions.

The semantic treatment showed a small but significant advantage over phonological treatment, particularly in generalizing improvements to untreated items, indicating its effectiveness in enhancing word retrieval skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Treatment of word retrieval deficits in aphasia. A comparison of two therapy methods. Howard, D., Patterson, K., Franklin, S., et al.[2006]

A preliminary study on treating word finding difficulties in aphasia showed promising results, with three out of four participants improving their word retrieval using phonological and orthographic cues.

The treatment involved two phases: initial cued word retrieval during picture naming tasks, followed by applying these words in real-life contexts, suggesting potential for long-term improvement in communication skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phonological and orthographic approaches to the treatment of word retrieval in aphasia. Herbert, R., Best, W., Hickin, J., et al.[2019]

The study introduced two novel cueing techniques, Silent Visuomotor Cues (SVC) and Semantic Auditory Cues (SAC), which significantly improved naming accuracy in ten participants with chronic non-fluent aphasia during a language game intervention.

Both cueing strategies were particularly effective in enhancing word naming during early sessions, suggesting they could be valuable tools for improving communication in individuals with aphasia, even at later stages of recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Multisensory cueing facilitates naming in aphasia. Grechuta, K., Rubio Ballester, B., Espín Munné, R., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 10 individuals with aphasia, phonological cues were found to be more effective than semantic cues for improving picture naming accuracy, particularly for items with low visual complexity.

The results suggest that phonological cues aid in the initial categorization of pictures rather than directly mapping to phonological processes, which has important implications for developing more effective rehabilitation therapies for naming impairments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What Does a Cue Do? Comparing Phonological and Semantic Cues for Picture Naming in Aphasia. Meteyard, L., Bose, A.[2019]

In a study involving three chronic aphasia speakers, Phonological Cueing Treatment (PCT) and Semantic Cueing Treatment (SCT) were tested for their effectiveness in improving action naming, with positive results for some participants.

Action naming improved for Speaker 1 (who received SCT) and Speaker 3 (who received both treatments), indicating that these cueing treatments can be beneficial for certain individuals with aphasia, though results may vary depending on the type of treatment and the grammatical category of the words.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of two lexical retrieval cueing treatments on action naming in aphasia. Wambaugh, JL., Doyle, PJ., Martinez, AL., et al.[2009]

The study explored how different auditory and visual cues can help nonfluent aphasic patients improve their picture naming abilities, focusing on both single and multiple cueing techniques.

Results suggest that using a combination of cues, such as printed words and initial syllables, may enhance the effectiveness of therapy for patients with Broca's aphasia, indicating a promising direction for clinical practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of single versus combined cue presentations on picture naming by aphasic adults. Weidner, WE., Jinks, AF.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11745305/

Comparative Effectiveness of In-Person and Virtual Picture ... The present study demonstrated that telepractice of a picture-naming paradigm is as effective as in-person treatment administration.

2. pubs.asha.org pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.1044/2017_JSLHR-L-17-0214

What Does a Cue Do? Comparing Phonological and ... To test these hypotheses, we compared the effectiveness of phonological and semantic cues in picture naming for a group of individuals with aphasia. To ...

3. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02687038.2019.1686748

Full article: Phonological cueing of word finding in aphasia Treatment employing semantic and phonological techniques has been successful in improving naming performance and also functional communicative effectiveness ( ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923025000814

A systematic review of Phonological Components Analysis ... A famous semantically-based therapy consists of generating six semantic features from a picture to boost the activation of the target word: its group/category, ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/figure/Cued-picture-naming-treatment_fig1_261256081

Cued picture-naming treatment. Conclusion: The study highlights the critical role of image selection in aphasia rehabilitation. Real images were found to be more effective than other image ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29486495/

What Does a Cue Do? Comparing Phonological and ... It has been argued that semantic cues facilitate the reliable categorization of the picture, and phonological cues facilitate the retrieval of target phonology.

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-aphasia-9-2020-1d476

Cued Picture-Naming Therapy for Aphasia The research articles do not report any safety concerns related to Cued Picture-Naming Therapy for individuals with aphasia, suggesting it is generally safe for ...

8. tactustherapy.com tactustherapy.com/cueing-hierarchy-word-finding-aphasia/

Cueing Hierarchy Treatment for Word Finding in Aphasia ... A cueing hierarchy is an evidence-based treatment for word retrieval in aphasia therapy. Learn how to create & use various cues, & how apps can help.

9. discovery.ucl.ac.uk discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1446711/1/U602636.pdf

THERAPY FOR WORD FINDING IN APHASIA Effects on ... The results showed a positive effect of the phonological and orthographic cues for two of the participants in terms of gains in picture naming. For the third ...

10. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/367574190_Outcomes_from_a_pilot_dose_comparison_study_of_naming_therapy_in_aphasia

Outcomes from a pilot dose comparison study of naming ... In the present study, we used a novel approach to personalise dose prescription and explored the effect of dose on treatment response in chronic post-stroke ...