Recruiting

Brain stimulation therapy for language problems after stroke

Plain-English translation of NCT05999318 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated April 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a treatment called continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS), a type of magnetic brain stimulation, combined with speech therapy for people who have lost language abilities after an ischemic stroke. Researchers use advanced brain imaging to create a personalized map of your language network and target the exact spot that will help you most. The goal is to see if this tailored approach can help you regain your ability to speak and understand language.

After a stroke affecting the language parts of the brain, many people struggle to speak or understand words. While speech therapy helps, researchers want to know if adding brain stimulation can speed up recovery or help people improve more than speech therapy alone.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 35 and 75 years old
you have been diagnosed with an ischemic stroke in the left side of your brain within the past 15 days to 3 months
you have aphasia (difficulty with speaking or understanding language) as measured by a standard language test
this is your first stroke and you had normal language ability before the stroke
your primary language is Chinese and you have at least 6 years of education
you understand the trial and are willing to sign a consent form

You likely don't qualify if…

you have severe difficulty with speech from other causes besides aphasia
you have had a stroke affecting both sides of your brain, or aphasia from a brain tumor, head injury, Parkinson's disease, or other condition
you have implanted devices like a pacemaker or cochlear implant, metal in your body, or conditions that make MRI unsafe for you
you have a history of epilepsy, severe heart, lung, liver, or kidney disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure
you are currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the trial

What participation looks like

You will be randomly assigned to receive either active brain stimulation or sham (fake) stimulation, both combined with speech and language therapy. The treatment lasts 3 weeks, with sessions on weekdays (Monday through Friday) for a total of 15 treatment days. During each session, magnetic stimulation will be applied to a personalized spot on your brain using real-time brain imaging to guide the procedure, and you'll also receive speech therapy. You'll complete language tests at the beginning and end to measure any improvement.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 7, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

China

First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun

Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang