Virtual Reality in Aphasia Telerehabilitation

Last updated: March 30, 2021
Sponsor: University of Oulu
Overall Status: Active - Not Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Communication Disorders

Speech Disorders

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

NCT04828759
70/2020
  • Ages 18-75
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of the immersive 3D HMD VR technology in the language intervention with a home-based telerehabilitation approach for people with aphasia. The assessments will be conducted at the baseline (prior the intervention periods) and after each intervention period (i.e. after the VR-intervention period and the waitlist period).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Post-stroke aphasia ≥ 3 months from stroke
  • Age 18-75 years
  • Finnish as a native language
  • Relative have the motivation and willingness to support person with aphasia inrehabilitation process
  • At least some level of spoken output
  • Moderate-to-severe aphasia
  • Deficit in a word retrieval process

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participation in other intervention study during the study
  • Participation in other traditional speech and language therapy during theVR-intervention (i.e. 9-10 weeks period).
  • Severe and current psychotic disorder
  • Dementia/other neurodegenerative disease
  • History of previous stroke (/strokes) if not recovered, excluding TIAs (the criteriafor the recovery: no residual aphasia or other disabilities caused by stroke whichwould affect in significant manner on everyday life)
  • Active epilepsy / migraine (< 3 years)
  • Severe apraxia of speech
  • Inability to act according to given instruction
  • Severe neuropsychological disorder or the decline of cognitive / memory functions,which would significantly affect for training during the VR-intervention
  • Vision or hearing impairment which would prevent the use of VR HMD
  • if the participant's treatment or medication is unsuitable with the use of VR HMDdevice as assessed by the physician
  • if the participant has the pacemaker or implantable (electric) medical device

Study Design

Total Participants: 20
Study Start date:
April 01, 2021
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2025

Study Description

The purpose of the present project is to study the effects, feasibility, and the participants' experiences of this novel kind of language intervention. The effects of the intervention will be studied with various outcome measures in terms of language performance, functional communication, and quality of life. The aim is to explore the VR-intervention on the group level and with a randomized waitlist control group design (or delayed crossover design). In this study, the people with aphasia will be practicing at their home with support of their relatives, and participants will also receive regular remote guidance by a speech and language therapist (SLT) during the intervention. The relatives are also involved in the assessment process.