Recruiting

Brain Stimulation Combined With Speech Therapy for Language Recovery

Plain-English translation of NCT07688551 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated August 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 3 — Testing in thousands of people, comparing the treatment against what doctors currently use. This is the last big step before approval.

What is this trial?

This study is testing whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)—a noninvasive technique that uses small electrical currents to stimulate brain activity—works better when combined with speech therapy to help people with Broca's aphasia recover their language abilities. Broca's aphasia is a condition that affects speech and language after a stroke, making it hard to find words and express thoughts. The trial will first figure out the best dose of stimulation, then compare this treatment against speech therapy alone to see if the combination helps people name objects and communicate more effectively.

Many people with Broca's aphasia struggle to recover their language abilities with speech therapy alone. This trial exists to find out whether adding brain stimulation to speech therapy can boost recovery and help people regain their ability to speak and understand language better.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 25 and 80 years old
you have been diagnosed with Broca's aphasia caused by a left-side stroke more than 6 months ago
you have used English as your primary language for at least 15 years
you have difficulty naming objects in a picture-naming test (can correctly name 140 or fewer items out of 175)
you are willing to follow all study requirements and attend appointments

You likely don't qualify if…

you have had brain surgery (other than for your acute stroke)
you have had seizures in the past 12 months
you have skin problems at or near where electrodes would be placed (rash, eczema, wounds, infection)
you have metal implants, electrical devices, or open skull defects in the area where the brain stimulation would be applied
you require continuous oxygen therapy that cannot be stopped for more than 1 hour

What participation looks like

You would receive speech therapy combined with noninvasive brain stimulation applied through small electrode pads on your scalp. The study first determines the best stimulation dose, and then tests whether this combined approach works better than speech therapy alone. Visits would involve receiving the stimulation for about 20 minutes while receiving speech therapy, and your progress with naming and language skills would be tracked over time.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 2, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(3 sites)

United States

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina

University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah