TVNS for language recovery after stroke

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Investigating the use of TRANScutaneous vagus nerve stimuLATion for the treatment of strokE related aphasia (TRANSLATE): a pilot RCT

• IRAS ID

  333900

• Contact name

  Ali Ali

• Contact email

  ali.ali@sheffield.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 2 days

• Research summary

  Aphasia is characterised by difficulties in the ability to produce or understand language, typically resulting from damage to key language areas in the brain Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia, which occurs in approximately 30% of stroke
  survivors. Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) is the gold-standard treatment for aphasia; however, it often only leads to modest improvements and may
  not be provided at the required doses to enhance recovery as much as possible. People with aphasia do benefit from SLT input even many years after stroke, however, access to therapy is limited to the early stages of recovery. Computer-based therapy is advantageous for individuals with chronic aphasia and may offer longer term solutions. The development of accessible therapies to improve language function in chronic aphasia is of the upmost importance. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques like transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) have the potential to promote language recovery in aphasia, over and above traditional SLT therapy, given prior studies have indicated a promising effect on promoting rewiring networks in the brain. This is the focus of our investigation.

  We plan to investigate whether is is safe, acceptable and feasible to pair tVNS with computer based language therapy at home. To do this we will conduct a pilot randomised controlled trial where individuals with aphasia will be allocated to either TVNS or a sham control alongside computer based SLT delivered at home for 6 weeks. We will record side effects from the treatment, how likely people are to complete the programme, and whether we can recruit successfully to such a trial. We will assess language function at the start and end of treatment, and at 6 weeks follow up, to understand if there are any signals that this therapy can improve language recovery.

• REC name

  South East Scotland REC 02

• REC reference

  24/SS/0017

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Mar 2024

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion