Communication disorder

This trial tests whether a high-intensity speech therapy program—five 30-minute sessions per week—works better than the traditional low-intensity approach of two sessions per week for children aged 4 to 12 with phonological speech sound disorders. The study will measure improveme…

This study tests a special therapy for stroke patients in the hospital to help them avoid falls after they go home. Falls are common after a stroke and can cause injuries or fear of falling. The therapy includes extra exercises and education about fall risks. Researchers will tra…

Researchers are testing whether four weeks of intensive motor speech therapy can improve speech accuracy in children who have childhood apraxia of speech along with a rare genetic condition. The study enrolls up to 20 children aged 3 to 16. Each child receives 12 sessions of eith…

This study tests whether combining home-based brain stimulation (tDCS) with virtual speech therapy can improve communication in adults with primary progressive aphasia, a language disorder often caused by Alzheimer's disease. Eighty participants will receive either active or plac…

This study tests whether a specialized speech therapy that focuses on word meanings can help people with mild-to-moderate semantic aphasia—a condition where brain damage impairs understanding and use of words. Participants first undergo a control period of standard language exerc…

This study tests a speech therapy program for bilingual Spanish-English or Spanish-Catalan speakers with primary progressive aphasia, a condition that slowly damages language abilities. Sixty participants will receive personalized script training via video sessions, while 30 othe…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS can improve word-finding in people who have trouble speaking after a stroke. Researchers will use MRI scans to guide the stimulation and see how the brain responds. The trial involves 45 participants …

This study tests whether a gentle electrical current applied to the brain can make speech therapy more effective for people with chronic aphasia (trouble speaking or understanding language) after a stroke. About 50 adults who had a stroke at least six months ago will receive eith…

This study tests personalized speech therapy delivered online for people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a condition that slowly destroys language skills. Researchers will enroll 30 adults with mild PPA and tailor exercises to their specific variant. The goal is to see if…

This study tests whether a gentle electrical current applied to the brain (tACS) during language therapy can help people with post-stroke aphasia name objects more accurately. 64 adults with aphasia will receive either real or sham stimulation while practicing word-naming tasks. …

This study tests whether virtual reality (VR) simulations can help college students improve their public speaking skills and reduce anxiety. 80 students will be randomly assigned to either a VR training group or a wait-list control group. Researchers will measure speech rate, pau…

This study at Duke University Hospital tests whether changing the timing of physician rounds improves communication satisfaction for high-risk pregnant patients who need long hospital stays. Currently, patients get two visits: an early morning bedside round and a later team discu…

This study tests two support programs for parents with advanced cancer who have children aged 10 to 25. One program provides information and tips; the other adds exercises and emotional support. Researchers want to see which helps parents communicate better and feel more confiden…

This study tests whether a speech therapy that involves parents can improve early social and communication skills in children aged 6 months to 5 years with neurodevelopmental disabilities. One group gets the parent-focused therapy, while the other gets standard speech therapy. Re…

This study aims to create a communication device that automatically learns and adapts to each user's physical abilities. It is designed for people with severe motor impairments who cannot use standard keyboards or speech. The system will be tested in 20 adults and children aged 6…

This study tests whether a gentle electrical current applied to the front of the brain (tDCS) can reduce fatigue and improve language and attention in people who have had a stroke. Sixty participants will receive either real or fake tDCS during 10 sessions of speech therapy. The …

This study investigates how children with cleft palate, their parents, and speech-language pathologists perceive high-intensity versus low-intensity speech therapy. High-intensity therapy involves five 30-minute sessions per week over two 2-week periods, while low-intensity thera…

This study tests a new approach called RIGHTimeCPV, designed to help children with poor-prognosis cancer and their families talk more openly with doctors about the future. Participants choose a communication companion and attend a special visit to share their preferences. The goa…

This study interviews bereaved parents and oncologists to understand how they discussed uncertainty during a child's cancer treatment. The goal is to find better ways for doctors and families to communicate about what the future may hold. Participants include parents whose child …

This study tests a web-based decision-support tool designed to help families and doctors make shared decisions about whether a child should go on chronic home ventilation. Half of the participating families use the tool, while the other half receive usual care. Researchers then m…

This study aims to see if a communication skills training program designed for rehabilitation professionals (like physical and speech therapists) is practical and helpful. About 25 staff members at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will take part. The goal is to boost their c…

This study tests whether a special training program called mastery learning can improve how anesthesiology residents handle difficult conversations with patients and families. Residents are randomly assigned to either the mastery training or standard learning. Researchers then me…

This study works with over 126,000 adults and clinic staff to improve how primary care clinics identify and accommodate patients with communication disabilities, such as speech or hearing problems. Researchers will test tools to help clinics record these needs in electronic healt…

This study observes 60 children with severe hearing loss who received cochlear implants before age 2. Researchers will track their speech therapy sessions and language skills over time to see which therapy approaches and how much therapy lead to better language development. The g…

This study aims to find the best way to train early intervention providers to deliver high-quality services to children under 3 with communication delays or autism. Researchers will compare two training models for a program called Project ImPACT, measuring how well therapists lea…

This study tests whether virtual reality-based assertiveness training can strengthen communication skills in oncology nurses. Sixty nurses working in oncology clinics for at least six months will participate. The training includes sessions on assertiveness techniques, handling cr…

This study tests whether speech therapy delivered via video call works as well as traditional in-clinic therapy for people with aphasia, a language disorder caused by stroke. One hundred adults who had a stroke at least a year ago will receive either remote or in-person therapy. …

This observational study looks at how acquired brain injury affects speech and breathing in adults with dysarthria. About 100 participants will have their voice recorded and take breathing tests. The goal is to find better ways to identify the severity and type of dysarthria, hel…

This study tests a virtual training program called ABCs that teaches healthcare providers how to have better conversations with patients about serious illness. The program includes online modules and live workshops. Researchers will compare providers who receive the training righ…

This study looks at whether using a preferred communication method (like a touch talker or picture cards) helps people with intellectual or developmental disabilities maintain positive behavior changes and avoid relapse. Researchers will compare two groups: one starting with a pr…

This study looks at how drinking alcohol and the way couples talk about sex can lead to sexual violence between partners. Researchers will bring in 240 couples from the Denver area to a lab, where some will drink alcohol and others won't, and then test their reactions. The goal i…