Improving texting communication for people with aphasia
Official title: Transactional Success in the Texting Exchanges of People with Aphasia
Funded at James Madison University · NIH-10730224 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people with aphasia can improve their texting skills to communicate better and stay connected with others, and it aims to find helpful ways to support them in sending messages.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James Madison University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Harrisonburg, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $477,241 |
| NIH project number | 1R15DC020836-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10730224 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with aphasia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have aphasia or those who are not interested in using electronic communication methods may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the ability of individuals with aphasia to communicate effectively through texting. It aims to develop a new method to measure how well these individuals can exchange information via text messages and to identify texting behaviors that help or hinder their communication success. By using a combination of statistical analyses and qualitative methods, the research seeks to create an intervention that supports better electronic messaging for those affected by aphasia, ultimately helping them maintain and strengthen their social connections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the communication skills and social interactions of patients with aphasia.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary research has indicated that individuals with aphasia face challenges in electronic communication, suggesting that this approach could be beneficial, though it may be novel in its specific focus on texting.
Where this research is happening
-
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harbick, Shiree Conlin — James Madison University
- Study coordinator: Harbick, Shiree Conlin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Neural signals linked to recovery from aphasia after stroke
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Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia
Researchers compare different bilingual experiences to see how they relate to language decline and thinking skills in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia.
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Functional reorganization of language and general brain networks in aphasia
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-
eSANA: revealing and improving AAC use after stroke for aphasia
A project to explore how people with aphasia after a stroke can best use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) during early rehabilitation.
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Cortical Organization of Syntax in Aphasia
A patient-facing study to understand how brain injury affects sentence structure and help people with aphasia communicate more clearly.
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.