Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Language Therapy to Improve Speech After Stroke
Official title: Electrical Field Guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Treat Subacute Post-stroke Aphasia
Run by University of Pennsylvania · NCT06968663 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if combining a brain stimulation technique with speech therapy can help people who have had a stroke improve their speech during the early recovery phase.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 63 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Pennsylvania Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 1, 2024 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | June 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06968663 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are right-handed individuals who have had a left hemisphere stroke resulting in aphasia within the last 2 to 6 weeks.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with serious psychiatric conditions, neurological disorders, or those who have had a history of seizures or head trauma may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) combined with modified Constraint Induced Language Therapy (mCILT) for treating aphasia in patients who have experienced a stroke. The study focuses on individuals in the subacute phase, specifically between 2 to 6 weeks post-stroke, to determine if this combined approach can enhance speech recovery. Participants will undergo MRI scans and receive personalized TMS treatment over 10 sessions, with follow-up assessments to evaluate outcomes. The trial aims to identify specific characteristics that may predict which patients will benefit most from this innovative therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve speech recovery in stroke patients suffering from aphasia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that TMS can improve language performance in chronic aphasia, but this approach in the subacute phase is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Left hemisphere stroke resulting in aphasia * The stroke must have occurred between 2 and 6 weeks prior to enrollment * Must be able to understand the nature of the study, and give informed consent * English proficiency * Right-handed Exclusion Criteria: * History of serious and/or ongoing issues with substance abuse * Previous head trauma with loss of consciousness for more than 5 minutes * History of major psychiatric illness * Dementia, or other neurological conditions * Epilepsy, or seizure after the stroke event * Pacemaker * Diagnosis of tinnitus * Pregnancy
Where it's running
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: H. Branch Coslett, MD — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Leslie Vnenchak, MA, CCC-SLP
- Email: leslie.vnenchak@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
- Phone: 215-964-2502
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Language Therapy to Improve Mild Aphasia
This study is testing whether combining brain stimulation with speech therapy can help people with mild aphasia after a stroke improve their speaking and understanding skills.
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Tailoring rTMS for Post-Stroke Aphasia Based on Language Profile
A non-drug brain stimulation approach is tested to see if customizing rTMS targets improves language recovery in people with aphasia after a left-brain stroke.
-
tDCS in Rehab for Stroke-Related Aphasia: A Practical Implementation
This study tests whether a 20-minute anodal tDCS session paired with speech therapy can be integrated into routine inpatient and outpatient rehab for people who recently had a stroke and now have aphasia.
-
Decoding Mandarin speech features from brain-surface signals
This project will try to decode imagined Mandarin speech, including lexical tones, from high-density brain-surface (ECoG) signals in adult patients who are having clinically indicated cortical electrode placement.
-
Digital speech-therapy app Zenicom for subacute post-stroke aphasia in Korean speakers
This trial will try the Zenicom digital speech-therapy app alongside conventional therapy to see if it helps Korean adults with aphasia after a recent (within 3 months) stroke.
-
High-intensity exercise to improve recovery after post-stroke aphasia
This tests whether a 12-week high-intensity group exercise program helps people with post-stroke aphasia improve physical fitness, language, thinking, and mood compared with low-intensity exercise.
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.