Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 40 and up

Personalized virtual speech therapy to improve communication in primary progressive aphasia

Official title: Intervention to Promote Communication Quality of Life for Persons With Language-Led Dementia and Their Partners: A Randomized Pilot Trial

Run by University of Texas at Austin · NCT07219680 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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

Study typeInterventional
Ages40 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment30 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Texas at Austin
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Austin, Texas)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 1, 2026
Main results expectedAugust 2027
Study endsAugust 2027
Registry record updatedApril 21, 2026
Trial IDNCT07219680 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a 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.

Probably 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.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

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.

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 gone: 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.

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

  • University of Texas
    Austin, Texas, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.