Personalized virtual speech therapy to improve communication in primary progressive aphasia
Intervention to Promote Communication Quality of Life for Persons With Language-Led Dementia and Their Partners: A Randomized Pilot Trial
This project tests whether a tailored, multi-part virtual speech-language program can help adults with primary progressive aphasia and their communication partners communicate better and improve quality of life.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Texas at Austin Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Austin, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT07219680 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional telerehabilitation program delivers two targeted speech-language approaches (lexical retrieval cascade training and video-implemented script training) via virtual sessions to adults with PPA and their primary communication partners. Participants who receive immediate treatment are compared with a waitlist control group who receive the same program after a delay. The study enrolls English- and/or Spanish-speaking participants with milder-to-moderate PPA who have a study partner and adequate hearing/vision for teleconferencing. Outcomes include measures of feasibility and acceptability, communication performance, partner-reported benefit, and patterns of treatment response to determine which measures best capture change.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults diagnosed with PPA (including semantic, logopenic, or nonfluent variants or PPA-plus), with MMSE ≥15, able to produce single monosyllabic words intelligibly, fluent in English and/or Spanish, able to use teleconference technology, with adequate hearing/vision and an available study partner.
Not a fit: Patients with very advanced PPA or severe cognitive/language impairment who cannot produce single words intelligibly, those without an available study partner, with insufficient hearing/vision, or who cannot participate in telehealth are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve everyday communication, make partner-supported conversations more effective, and enhance quality of life for people with PPA and their partners.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small studies of telerehabilitation and of script- and lexical-based therapies in aphasia have shown promise, but fully personalized multi-component virtual programs for PPA remain relatively novel and need more evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Persons with PPA: * A PPA (Gorno-Tempini et al., 2011) or "PPA-plus" (Mesulam et al., 2001) diagnosis * MMSE score of 15 or higher and must be able to produce single monosyllabic words intelligibly * Must speak English, Spanish or both languages (i.e., bilingual speakers of English or Spanish) * Hearing and vision adequate for participation in teleconference meetings * Must have a study partner available (someone who will commit to attending teleconference sessions, as needed, during assessment and treatment phases) Inclusion criteria for Care Partners: * Partners must express willingness to attend and participate in assessment and treatment sessions, including those targeting dyadic communication goals * Partners must speak English, Spanish or both languages (i.e., bilingual speakers of English or Spanish) * Partner's hearing and vision should be adequate for participation in teleconference meetings The participant and/or study partner must have basic experience using a computer. Exclusion criteria for persons with PPA: * Other central nervous system or medical diagnosis that can account for symptoms * Psychiatric diagnosis that can account for symptoms
Where this trial is running
Austin, Texas
- University of Texas — Austin, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Maya L Henry, PhD — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Henry Lab Research Coordinator
- Email: aphasialab@austin.utexas.edu
- Phone: 512-471-3420
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.