Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Aphasia After Stroke
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder. Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia, which affects 30% of stroke survivors. Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) can help people with aphasia but it may not be provided at the required intensity. Access to therapy is often limited after the first few months following stroke
| Condition(s) | Aphasia, Chronic Stroke |
|---|---|
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | NA |
| Study type | Interventional |
| Summary | Aphasia is an acquired language disorder. Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia, which affects 30% of stroke survivors. Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) can help people with aphasia but it may not be provided at the required intensity. Access to therapy is often limited after the first few months following stroke. People with aphasia can improve with therapy many years after stroke but these benefits have not been found to translate to day to day conversation. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive technique which involves stimulating a branch of the vagus nerve through the skin of the ear, using a small earpiece. This technique is safe and has been approved for use in headache. There is promising evidence that tVNS can improve motor rehabilitation in chronic |
| Who can participate | Inclusion Criteria: * Supratentorial stroke at least 6 months prior to recruitment * Aphasia (with word finding difficulties) * Ability to engage in the programme (support can be provided for cognitive or receptive difficulties) * Sufficient vision to engage in the computer-based SLT programme Exclusion Criteria: * Implanted devices (e.g. pacemaker) or implanted stimulation devices * Currently receiving a programme of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) * Damage to the vagus nerve * Symptomatic bradycardia/ 2nd or 3rd heart block * Pregnancy * Unable to speak English * Severe deafness (despite using hear aids) |
| Ages | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Lead sponsor | Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Locations | Sheffield, United Kingdom |
| Start date | 2024-04-25 |
| NCT ID | NCT06403475 |
| Official listing | https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06403475 |