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Examining Interactions Between PALS and Caregivers

Examining Interactions Between Persons With ALS and Caregivers

Who can join

Ages 18 to 90 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

Speakers with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (PALS-people with ALS)

* diagnosis of ALS following the revised EL Escorial criteria
* no history of other neurological conditions (e.g., stroke)
* no cognitive impairment assessed by Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (mini MoCA)
* detectable speech disturbance according to the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R)
* the ability to produce single words
* being a native speaker of American English (AE).

Caregivers

* being a caregiver of a participant with ALS
* being a native speaker of American English (AE).

Exclusion Criteria:

\- None - if volunteer meets the inclusion criteria, then they will be enrolled

About the study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the effect of communicative interaction on verbal communication in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers.

The question is, What are the effects of communicative interaction on verbal communication in people with ALS when they interact with their caregivers and does this change over time?

Participants will read words and sentences while they are interacting with their caregivers.

What is being tested

• Structured Communicative Interaction (behavioral)
• Unstructured communicative interaction (behavioral)

Sponsor: Penn State University · Participants: 152 · Started: Jan 22, 2025

Contact the study team

• Anne Olmstead, Ph.D. · Phone: 814-867-3373
• Navin Viswanathan, Ph.D · Phone: 814-867-2340

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06819124

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 3, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.