Improving speech recovery for people with aphasia after stroke
Official title: Speech Entrainment for Aphasia Recovery (SpARc)
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-10690454 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new therapy called speech entrainment therapy (SET) to help people with non-fluent aphasia, which can happen after a stroke, by using a fun audio-visual tool on a laptop to improve their speaking and communication skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $843,407 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DC017521-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10690454 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have been diagnosed with non-fluent aphasia following a stroke and are experiencing challenges in speech production.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have aphasia or those with other forms of speech or language impairments unrelated to stroke may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new therapy called speech entrainment therapy (SET) designed to help individuals with non-fluent aphasia, a common language impairment following a stroke. Participants will engage with an audio-visual model on a laptop that guides their speech, aiming to improve their fluency and communication abilities. The study will assess the effectiveness of this therapy through a controlled clinical trial, measuring improvements in spontaneous speech and overall language use. By focusing on practical language skills, the research seeks to enhance the quality of life for those affected by aphasia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve speech fluency and communication skills for patients with aphasia, leading to better social interactions and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have shown promising results with similar approaches, indicating that speech entrainment therapy may effectively improve speech fluency in individuals with non-fluent aphasia.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wilmskoetter, Janina — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Wilmskoetter, Janina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Restoring speech with a brain implant for stroke-related aphasia
A study at UC Davis aims to help people who have language trouble after a stroke by using a tiny brain implant to turn brain signals into spoken words.
-
Dynamic brain imaging of speech in progressive aphasia
A study test uses advanced brain imaging to understand how speech changes in people with primary progressive aphasia.
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Improving speech abilities for people with aphasia through practice techniques
This study is looking to help people with aphasia, which is a language problem that can happen after a stroke, by having them practice speaking along with a model speaker to see if it can improve their speech even after the practice ends.
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Silent speech interface using a wearable tongue tracker to help people after laryngectomy communicate
A wearable system with tongue sensors and intraoral components aims to let people without a vocal cord use natural-sounding speech in daily life.
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Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
-
Overlap between how we speak and how we hold words in memory
A Duke-led project studies how the brain that talks relates to keeping verbal information in working memory, using advanced brain recordings from patients already undergoing medical care.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.