StrokeNCT06891638
Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and Phonomotor Therapy
A study testing Schedule of tDCS administration in people with Stroke and Aphasia, run by Kessler Foundation at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
This study is designed for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors, making it difficult to read, speak, and understand language. Up to 70% of people with aphasia struggle with reading, which impacts their ability to communicate, work, and engage in daily life. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- What is being tested?
- Schedule of tDCS administration
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 6 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 12 May 2025to 14 Feb 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Chronic (>6 months) left-hemisphere stroke
- Aphasia diagnosis.
- Deficits in reading aloud.
Who cannot join
- Eye condition not correctable with lenses and interfering with reading (e.g., blindness)
- Severe apraxia of speech or cognitive deficits preventing participation.
- Participation in one-on-one aphasia rehabilitation during the study period.
- Brain disorders other than stroke (such as Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, etc)
- Contraindications of tDCS or MRI
- Skin condition affecting the scull (e.g., psoriasis) or open wounds at the stimulation site.
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- Presence of metallic implants (e.g., cardiac stimulators or pacemakers, cochlear implants)
- History of ongoing/unmanaged seizers
- Pregnancy
- Claustrophobia
- Inability to lie flat on the back
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
Kessler Foundation
West Orange, New Jersey, 07052
About this study
Official title: Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and PMT
This study is designed for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors, making it difficult to read, speak, and understand language. Up to 70% of people with aphasia struggle with reading, which impacts their ability to communicate, work, and engage in daily life.
The study aims to test a new approach to reading rehabilitation by combining Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT), a language therapy adapted to improve reading, with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and painless brain stimulation technique. tDCS delivers a mild electrical current to the brain, which may enhance learning. This study will assess whether adding tDCS to PMT improves reading therapy outcomes.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to improve reading rehabilitation for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors. The goal is to determine whether adding transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and painless brain stimulation technique, to Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT), a language therapy adapted for reading, enhances treatment effectiveness.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, each receiving different combinations of PMT and tDCS over six weeks. Some will receive active tDCS at different points in therapy, while others will receive a placebo (sham) version. By comparing how the timing of tDCS affects reading improvement, this study aims to optimize treatment strategies for individuals with aphasia.
Reading and language skills will be assessed before, during, and after treatment using standardized tests to measure progress. The study will take place at two sites: Kessler Foundation and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), where participants will complete therapy sessions.
Findings from this research may help develop more effective and accessible treatments for stroke survivors with aphasia, improving their ability to read and communicate.
- Being tested
- Schedule of tDCS administration
- Keywords
- Aphasia, Post-stroke rehabilitation, Reading impairment, Language therapy, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Phonomotor Treatment (PMT), Brain stimulation therapy, Neurorehabilitation, Randomized controlled trial (RCT), Non-invasive brain stimulation, Neuromodulation, Speech and language therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Stroke, Aphasia, Dyslexia, Communication Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Schedule of tDCS administrationDevice
This study evaluates the combined effects of Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for reading rehabilitation in post-stroke aphasia. Unlike standard speech therapy, this intervention integrates non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance language recovery by modulating neural activity in perilesional areas. We hypothesize that active tDCS will enhance PMT efficacy, leading to greater improvements in reading competence and phonological processing compared to sham tDCS. Through systematic testing across the 3 study arms, we expect to identify the most effective stimulation timing.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Early tDCS | Experimental | This group will undergo Active tDCS + PMT for weeks 1-3 and Sham tDCS + PMT for weeks 4-6. Receives: Device: Schedule of tDCS administration |
| Late tDCS | Sham comparator | This group will undergo Sham tDCS + PMT for weeks 1-3 and Active tDCS + PMT for weeks 4-6. Receives: Device: Schedule of tDCS administration |
| Interleaved tDCS | Active comparator | This group will receive PMT + Active/Sham tDCS on alternate days for 6 weeks. Receives: Device: Schedule of tDCS administration |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Reading aloud accuracy
Participants will read words and pronounceable pseudowords that appear one at a time on the computer screen. Each testing session will be audio recorded and independently scored by 2 raters, with ties resolved by a 3rd rater.
Measured: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment
Secondary outcomes (2)
Reading Comprehension Battery for Aphasia 2nd Edition
Participants will complete a standardized language assessment.
Measured: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment
Western Aphasia Battery
Participants will complete a standardized language assessment.
Measured: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Mar 2025
- Study start12 May 2025
- Primary completion14 Feb 2026
- Study completion14 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for StrokeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Kessler FoundationThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 6 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kessler Foundation
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Olga Boukrina, Kessler Foundation
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06891638
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- R-1290-25
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 12 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 8 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Enhancing Reading Recovery in Aphasia With tDCS and PMT
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06891638
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- R-1290-25
- Keywords
- Aphasia, Post-stroke rehabilitation, Reading impairment, Language therapy, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Phonomotor Treatment (PMT), Brain stimulation therapy, Neurorehabilitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 6 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Kessler FoundationUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study start
- 12 May 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 14 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study is designed for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors, making it difficult to read, speak, and understand language. Up to 70% of people with aphasia struggle with reading, which impacts their ability to communicate, work, and engage in daily life.
The study aims to test a new approach to reading rehabilitation by combining Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT), a language therapy adapted to improve reading, with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and painless brain stimulation technique. tDCS delivers a mild electrical current to the brain, which may enhance learning. This study will assess whether adding tDCS to PMT improves reading therapy outcomes.
Detailed description
This study aims to improve reading rehabilitation for individuals with aphasia, a language disorder that affects many stroke survivors. The goal is to determine whether adding transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and painless brain stimulation technique, to Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT), a language therapy adapted for reading, enhances treatment effectiveness.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, each receiving different combinations of PMT and tDCS over six weeks. Some will receive active tDCS at different points in therapy, while others will receive a placebo (sham) version. By comparing how the timing of tDCS affects reading improvement, this study aims to optimize treatment strategies for individuals with aphasia.
Reading and language skills will be assessed before, during, and after treatment using standardized tests to measure progress. The study will take place at two sites: Kessler Foundation and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), where participants will complete therapy sessions.
Findings from this research may help develop more effective and accessible treatments for stroke survivors with aphasia, improving their ability to read and communicate.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Early tDCS | Experimental | Device: Schedule of tDCS administrationThis group will undergo Active tDCS + PMT for weeks 1-3 and Sham tDCS + PMT for weeks 4-6. |
| Late tDCS | Sham comparator | Device: Schedule of tDCS administrationThis group will undergo Sham tDCS + PMT for weeks 1-3 and Active tDCS + PMT for weeks 4-6. |
| Interleaved tDCS | Active comparator | Device: Schedule of tDCS administrationThis group will receive PMT + Active/Sham tDCS on alternate days for 6 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Chronic (>6 months) left-hemisphere stroke
- Aphasia diagnosis.
- Deficits in reading aloud.
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Eye condition not correctable with lenses and interfering with reading (e.g., blindness)
- Severe apraxia of speech or cognitive deficits preventing participation.
- Participation in one-on-one aphasia rehabilitation during the study period.
- Brain disorders other than stroke (such as Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia, Parkinson's Disease, etc)
- Contraindications of tDCS or MRI
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule of tDCS administrationThis study evaluates the combined effects of Phono-Motor Treatment (PMT) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for reading rehabilitation in post-stroke aphasia. Unlike standard speech therapy, this intervention integrates non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance language recovery by modulating neural activity in perilesional areas. We hypothesize that active tDCS will enhance PMT efficacy, leading to greater improvements in reading competence and phonological processing compared to sham tDCS. Through systematic testing across the 3 study arms, we expect to identify the most effective stimulation timing. | Device | Early tDCS, Interleaved tDCS, Late tDCS |
Primary outcome
Reading aloud accuracy
Time frame: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment
Participants will read words and pronounceable pseudowords that appear one at a time on the computer screen. Each testing session will be audio recorded and independently scored by 2 raters, with ties resolved by a 3rd rater.
2 secondary outcomes
Reading Comprehension Battery for Aphasia 2nd Edition
Time frame: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment
Western Aphasia Battery
Time frame: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Schedule of tDCS administration in people with Stroke and Aphasia, run by Kessler Foundation at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Reading aloud accuracy (time frame: before treatment, midway through treatment, and immediately after treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 May 2026.