Tablet-based Aphasia Therapy in the Acute Phase After Stroke

Ghent University Hospital (UZ)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stroke, Acute; Aphasia

Treatments: Behavioral: Tablet-based aphasia therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03679637

EC/2018/1006

Details and patient eligibility

About

As aphasia is one of the most common and disabling disorders following stroke, in many cases resolving in long-term deficits, it is now thought that intensive aphasia therapy is effective, even in the chronic phase following stroke. However, as intensive aphasia rehabilitation is difficult to achieve in clinical practice, tablet-based aphasia therapies are explored to further facilitate language recovery. Although there is mounting evidence that computer-based treatments are effective, it is also important to assess the feasibility, usability and acceptability of these technologies, especially in the acute phase post stroke. The investigators assume that tablet-based aphasia therapy is a feasible treatment option for patients with aphasia in the acute phase following stroke. The researchers also believe that the specific app that will be used in therapy is user-friendly and that it will be well accepted by this specific patient population.

Full description

The study is a prospective study, with each participant undergoing testing approximately within three days after inclusion in the study (immediately prior to tablet-based aphasia therapy). Based on the results of diagnostic testing (standard of care in the acute phase), therapy will be tailored for each individual. After two short training sessions, patients will independently practice with the app during hospitalisation, guided by a user-friendly instruction sheet. Patients will be encouraged to practice as much as possible, with a minimum of 30 minutes per day. Exercises will be selected by the speech-language therapist based on diagnostic results and will be adjusted for difficulty and type of exercise during treatment based on performance rates. the aim of the study is to investigate the feasibility, usability and acceptability of a tablet-based aphasia therapy in patients with aphasia in the acute phase following stroke.

Enrollment: 25 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with aphasia after an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
• Maximum 2 weeks post-stroke
• Minimum 18 years old
• A minimum proficient language level of Dutch
• Imaging (CT or MRI) prior to inclusion
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Presence of severe psychiatric disorders and/or cognitive disorders that hinder the use of the tablet-based aphasia therapy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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25 participants in 1 patient group

Intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

Each participant will receive a tablet-based aphasia therapy

Treatment:

Behavioral: Tablet-based aphasia therapy