Multisensory Training to Help Hemianopia After Stroke
Official title: Ameliorating Stroke-induced Hemianopia Via Multisensory Training
Run by Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NCT05894434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We’re testing a multisensory training approach to see if it can improve vision in people with homonymous hemianopia after a stroke, comparing long-standing cases to those treated soon after the stroke.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 72 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Wake Forest University Health Sciences Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 29, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 2027 |
| Study ends | December 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 30, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05894434 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) with homonymous hemianopia due to stroke, either long-standing (>6 months) or early (<1 month post-stroke), who can undergo MRI and participate in training and follow-up.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with non-stroke-related visual impairment, unstable medical conditions, or inability to attend follow-up visits may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study tests multisensory training against unisensory training in adults with stroke-related hemianopia. It evaluates visual recovery using ophthalmologic and perceptual tests and tracks brain changes with fMRI to understand neural circuits involved. The study includes two cohorts: patients with stable hemianopia for more than six months and patients treated within one month of stroke, with follow-up assessments at 12 months. Outcomes focus on extent of vision restoration and persistence of changes over time. Safety and feasibility are considered as part of the training protocol at a single center.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience improved visual function and better daily living abilities after stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in neurorehabilitation have shown functional gains with multisensory approaches, though this exact protocol and population are relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age \>= 18 years old * Homonymous hemianopia diagnosed and referred by a neurologist, confirmed with Humphrey test (Goldmann size V) on first visit. Hemianopia must have been evident for at least 6 months for inclusion in the first experiment and \<1 month for inclusion in the second * Cognitively normal, defined as having normal activities of daily living OR has received a cognitive adjudication of normal through the Wake Forest University School of Medicine or equivalent within the past 12 months * MRI compatible * Has reliable transportation or is able to use transportation provided by the study * English speaking Exclusion Criteria: * Current major medical problems that might independently affect cognition, vision, or interfere with ability to attend study visits. This includes pathology of the retina or optic nerve explanatory of blindness * Unable or unwilling to attend scheduled testing and training sessions, including the 12 month follow up * Current diagnosis of a major neurological disorder that could interfere with the ability to follow task instructions (Dementia, Parkinson's disease, etc.) or that may interfere with the rehabilitation paradigm (uncorrected asymmetric hearing loss, deafness, hemineglect) * Unwilling or unable to provide consent for study participation * Current stroke symptoms deemed exclusionary by a study physician. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a study physician to determine whether factors may affect study outcomes, aims, or integrity * Taking medication that could negatively influence safety during the intervention * Enrolled in another interventional research study \<= 3 months prior to beginning this study * Self-reports regularly drinking \> 14 alcoholic beverages a week or current illicit drug use
Where it's running
-
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Benjamin A Rowland, PhD — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Benjamin A Rowland, PhD
- Email: benjamin.rowland@advocatehealth.org
- Phone: 336-716-7096
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Home-based vision training guided by brain imaging
This study tests whether at‑home, image-guided visual training can improve visual field function for adults with stroke-related vision loss.
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How vision can recover after an occipital stroke
This project will use brain MRI and vision testing to see if patterns of residual brain tissue and prior or ongoing visual training relate to partial vision recovery in people with occipital stroke and homonymous field loss.
-
Visual retraining after stroke
We will try an intensive home-based visual retraining program for adults with cortical vision loss after stroke to see if it improves visual perception and everyday use of vision.
-
Understanding how vision loss affects driving in virtual reality
This study tests how vision loss from a stroke affects driving skills in a virtual reality setting to help understand the challenges faced by people with visual field defects.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.