Clinical Trial: Virtual Reality Based Sensorimotor Speech Therapy

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Terapia de Lenguaje, Sensorial y Motora, Basada en Realidad Virtual

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether VR based language rehabilitation scenario based on the core premises of ILAT has a beneficial effect on the linguistic performance (faster retrieval of the target lexicon and general fluency) of Broca's aphasia patients. Furthermore, it aims at testing the effects of cueing (visual and auditory) on word retrieval.

Detailed Summary: Acquired brain lesions such as stroke often result the most common disabling neurological damages (Carter et al, 2012). 35-40% of stroke patients suffer serious language deficits and patients are frequently left with chronic disabilities which adversely impact their quality of life. Thus, the need for efficient rehabilitation methods increases. Recent studies show that Broca's area and the premotor cortex are anatomically coupled (Pulvermuller 2005) suggesting that for a therapy to be effective, in the brain there must be an interaction between linguistic neural system, motor and sensory circuits, memory, planning and monitoring (Kurland et al, 2012). These hypotheses led to the establishment of the so-called Intensive Language-Action Therapy (ILAT) (Pulvermuller 2012) which promotes motor movement during language practice. Thus, ILAT is an action-embedded language therapy grounded in three main principles: intense practice, overcoming learned non-use, and promoting motor actions (no compensations). Recently, a number of studies examined the functionality of virtual reality based rehabilitation systems that aim at post stroke motor recovery of upper extremities (Boian et al., 2002; Cameirão, Badia, Oller, & Verschure, 2010; Jack et al., 2001; Saposnik et al., 2010). In the present study, the goal is to further validate VR based language rehabilitation system based on the core principles of ILAT implemented within the environment of the rehabilitation Gaming System (RGS). Additionally, the goal is to investigate the effects of cueing on word retrieval. It was shown that conduction and Broca's aphasics exhibit the highest responsiveness to cueing (Li & Williams 1989). In order to overcome subsequent disturbances in word retrieval mechanisms, a number of cueing methods have been established to improve both the immediate and long term lexical access (Howard 2000). Both semantic and phonemic cues act as primes and are usually administered by the therapist in
Sponsor: Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Current Primary Outcome: Change in linguistic performance and competence measured using abbreviated version of Boston Naming Test [ Time Frame: Change from the baseline outcome (date of randomization) of the abbreviated version of Boston Naming Test at 16-weeks (follow up). ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • The upper extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment [ Time Frame: Change from the baseline outcome (date of randomization) of the The upper extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment at week 4, 8 and 16 (follow up). ]
  • Measure of language use during daily leaving activities using Communication Activity Log [ Time Frame: Change from the baseline outcome (date of randomization) of the Communication Activity Log assesed by the patient, a blinded therapist and a caregiver at week 4, 8 and 16 (follow up). ]
  • The measure of learning using Vocabulary Test [ Time Frame: Measured five times over the period of the intervention (at randomization, at week 2, at week 4, at week 6, at week 8) and once at the followed up period at week 16 ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Dates:
Date Received: July 30, 2016
Date Started: July 2016
Date Completion: August 2017
Last Updated: October 6, 2016
Last Verified: October 2016