Aphasia Therapy: Factors of Efficacy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Constraint-induced aphasia therapy (CIAT) has proven effective in stroke patients. It has remained unclear, however, whether intensity of therapy or constraint is the relevant factor. This study will give an answer to this question to improve speech and language therapy.

Detailed Description
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Although there is clear evidence that aphasia therapy is effective, questions remain as to the intensity of administered therapy, the preferred therapeutic approach and its initiation with regard to stroke onset. CIAT is a a high intense group therapy administered over 2 weeks. Additionally, patients have to communicate solely in spoken words or sentences (constraint). This study compares CIAT with an approach of the same intensity without constraints and a less intense house-typical therapeutic approach.

Official Title
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Constraint Induced Aphasia Therapy in Stroke Patients in Acute Stage.

Conditions
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Aphasia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Control group
* Other: CIAT-group
* Other: communication treatment group (CTG)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: first ever stroke suffering from aphasia Exclusion Criteria: severe cognitive or attentional impairments severe depression left-handedness severe dysarthria apraxia of speech severe deafness additional neurological diseases affecting speech (e.g. Parkinson's disease)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 39 Years
Maximum Age: 89 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Control group<br>Patients received a standard, house-typical aphasia therapy in single and group therapy sessions | Other: Control group<br>* This is the control group with 14 h treatment over 10 workdays.<br>|
| Experimental: CIAT-group<br>Patients received constraint-induced aphasia therapy. | Other: CIAT-group<br>* Examine the efficacy of CIAT (30 h over 10 workdays) versus Control-group and communication treatment group.<br>|
| Active Comparator: communication treatment group (CTG)<br>Patients received aphasia group therapy without constraints | Other: communication treatment group (CTG)<br>* Examine the efficacy of CTG (30h over 10 wokrdays) versus CIAT-group and control group<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change of aphasia by Aachener Aphasia Test (AAT) |  | pretreatment and within 24 h post intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change of Communication Activity Log (CAL) | The CAL is a two-part questionnaire rating the amount and the quality of daily communication on a six-point scale | pretreatment and within 24 h post intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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communication disorders, language and speech disorder rehabilitation, stroke