RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Adaptive Trial Scheduling in Naming Treatment for Aphasia

Integrating Complementary Learning Principles in Aphasia Rehabilitation Via Adaptive Modeling (Sub-study 2: Adaptive Trial Scheduling)

About This Trial

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by stroke and other acquired brain injuries that affects over two million people in the United States and which interferes with life participation and quality of life. Anomia (i.e., word- finding difficulty) is a primary frustration for people with aphasia. Picture-based naming treatments for anomia are widely used in aphasia rehabilitation, but current treatment approaches do not address the long-term retention of naming abilities and do not focus on using these naming abilities in daily life. The current research aims to evaluate novel anomia treatment approaches to improve long-term retention and generalization to everyday life. This study is one of two that are part of a larger grant. This record is for sub-study 2, which will evaluate the benefits of adaptive trial spacing.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Existing diagnosis of chronic (\>6 months) aphasia subsequent to left hemisphere stroke. - Impaired performance on 2/8 sections of the Comprehensive Aphasia Test. - Must have access to a high-speed internet connection and be able to participate in telehealth. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - History of other acquired or progressive neurological disease. - Significant language comprehension impairments - Unmanaged drug / alcohol dependence. - Severe diagnosed mood or behavioral disorders that require specialize mental health interventions. Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language

Inclusion Criteria: * Existing diagnosis of chronic (\>6 months) aphasia subsequent to left hemisphere stroke. * Impaired performance on 2/8 sections of the Comprehensive Aphasia Test. * Must have access to a high-speed internet connection and be able to participate in telehealth. Exclusion Criteria: * History of other acquired or progressive neurological disease. * Significant language comprehension impairments * Unmanaged drug / alcohol dependence. * Severe diagnosed mood or behavioral disorders that require specialize mental health interventions.

Treatments Being Tested

BEHAVIORAL

Adaptive Spacing Condition

Each of the 200 target words for practice are presented on a schedule determined by an algorithm that relies on the pattern of correct vs. incorrect responses for each item. Items in the "active learning" state need to be answered correctly a certain number of times before being categorized as "learned." Each item must be answered correctly 3 times in a row (immediately, then at one-minute and five-minute intervals) before it is categorized as "learned." Then, it will be scheduled at ever-increasing intervals, until answered incorrectly, at which point the item would be returned to the "active learning" state, requiring three correct responses in a row to return again to the "learned" expanding interval state.

BEHAVIORAL

High-Item Non-Adaptive Spacing Condition

Each of the 200 target words for practice are presented in sequential order randomized within blocks, with each word presented once before the list repeats.

BEHAVIORAL

Low-Item Non-Adaptive Spacing Condition

Each of the 40 target words for practice are presented in sequential order randomized within blocks, with each word presented once before the list repeats.

Locations (1)

Language Rehab and Cognition Lab, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States