Modulation of Primary Motor Cortex to Enhance Treatment of Dysarthria Post-stroke
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 3
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Perceptual speech assessments
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The proposed study aims to determine if transcranial direct current stimulation can enhance the effect of speech therapy in post-stroke patients with dysarthria.
Detailed Description
A total of 60 Cantonese-speaking post-stroke patients who are suffering from dysarthria will be recruited and randomly divided into real tDCS and sham groups. All the participants will receive individualized speech therapy based on the results of their speech assessment.
For the real tDCS group, an anodal high-definition tDCS of 2 milliamperes (mA) lasting for 20 minutes will be delivered to the orofacial area of the primary motor cortex (SM1) during speech therapy. For the sham tDCS group, stimulation given during speech therapy will only last for 30 seconds in order to cause a similar sensation on the scalp as the real stimulation group. There will be a total of 10 daily sessions during a 2-week period.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Cantonese-speaking adults who had their first stroke and have suffered dysarthria post-stroke.
- •Both acute and chronic stroke participants will be recruited.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Individuals with a personal or family history of epilepsy or seizures;
- •Individuals with a history of another neurological condition (which is not a result from the initial stroke);
- •Individuals with a history of speech disorders, voice disorders, oro-maxillo-facial surgery involving the tongue and/or lip, severe cognitive impairment, severe aphasia;
- •In an unstable or serious medical condition;
- •Have a cardiac implant metallic foreign body implant and/or any medications that lower neural thresholds (e.g. antidepressants, neuroleptic agents, etc.).
Arms & Interventions
real tDCS
A total of 60 Cantonese-speaking post-stroke patients who are suffering from dysarthria will be recruited and randomly divided into real tDCS and sham groups.
Intervention: tDCS active (Device)
sham tDCS
A total of 60 Cantonese-speaking post-stroke patients who are suffering from dysarthria will be recruited and randomly divided into real tDCS and sham groups.
Intervention: tDCS sham (Device)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Perceptual speech assessments
Time Frame: Change Before and After tDCS Stimulation at immediately post-treatment, 1-month and 3-month post treatment
All participants will be required to produce a sustained vowel /a/, repeat some syllables (i.e., /pa/, /ta/, /ka/ and /pataka/), read a standard Chinese paragraph and have a 1-2 mins conversation with the researcher.
Communication effectiveness measures
Time Frame: Change Before and After tDCS Stimulation at immediately post-treatment, 1-month and 3-month post treatment
The Modified Communication Effectiveness Index (CETI-M) is a 10-item patient-reported measure of change in functional communication ability.
Secondary Outcomes
- Kinematic Measurements(Change Before and After tDCS Stimulation at immediately post-treatment, 1-month and 3-month post treatment)
- Acoustic measurements(Change Before and After tDCS Stimulation at immediately post-treatment, 1-month and 3-month post treatment)
- Quality of Life measurement(Change Before and After tDCS Stimulation at immediately post-treatment, 1-month and 3-month post treatment)
Investigators
Dr Min Wong
Assistant Professor
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University