Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation + Language Therapy to Treat Mild Aphasia
Personalized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Constraint Induced Language Therapy to Treat Mild Post-Stroke Aphasia
Who can join
Ages 40 to 85 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Left Hemisphere stroke * Stroke occurred more than 6 months ago * Mild Aphasia (WAB AQ score \> 85) * Proficient in English Exclusion Criteria: * Ongoing substance or alcohol abuse * Other neurological disorders, beside stroke (i.e. dementia, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis) * Active psychiatric disorders (i.e. bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) * Pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator * Diagnosis of tinnitus * Epilepsy, or seizure in the past 6 months
About the study
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) combined with Speech-Language Therapy (SLT) is an effective treatment for mild aphasia in persons with chronic stroke.
The main questions this study aims to answer are:
1. Can TMS combined with SLT improve conversational speech and comprehension? 2. Can we identify specific behavioral and biological characteristics that would benefit most from the TMS and SLT treatment?
Researchers will compare real TMS to sham (fake) TMS to see whether TMS can treat post-stroke mild aphasia.
Participants will:
* Complete a screening and medical intake to determine eligibility * Undergo a MRI * Participate in 10 consecutive sessions (Monday-Friday) of TMS and SLT treatment * Complete follow-up assessments 2 and 4 months after treatment
What is being tested
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) (device)
- Speech-Language Therapy (SLT) (behavioral)
Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania · Participants: 24 · Started: Feb 11, 2025
Contact the study team
- Harris Drachman, MS · Phone: 215-964-2502
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06842745
Locations in the U.S.
| Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.