Speech therapy before epilepsy surgery to protect language skills

This trial is testing whether intensive speech rehabilitation before epilepsy surgery can protect your language skills and reduce complications after the operation. About 30% of people with epilepsy don't respond well to medications alone, and surgery is often the only chance for a cure — but surgery on the language-dominant side of the brain can damage word-finding ability and memory in more than 6 out of 10 patients. This study asks whether preparing your brain with specialized speech therapy before surgery can build up cognitive reserves and help prevent those language problems.

When epilepsy doesn't respond to medication, brain surgery is often necessary to remove the area causing seizures. However, surgery in the language-dominant part of the brain can harm your ability to find words or remember things — and there are currently no proven ways to prevent this. This trial exists to see whether preparing your brain with intensive speech therapy beforehand might protect your language abilities and make surgery safer.