High technology for aphasia rehabilitation - braincare.it fileHigh technology for aphasia...
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High technology for aphasia rehabilitation M. Tonello FABIO 1 , M. Corazza FRANCESCO 1 , Mme Tebaldi FRANCESCA 1 , Pr Cantagallo ANNA 1 (1)BrainCare s.r.l., Padua, Italy INTRODUCTION The starting point for this study were the interesting results in the rehabilitation of aphasia, identified through the application of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), which show improvements in access to language, especially in the recovery of nouns and verbs (Marangolo 2011). In our study we administered it via saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes attached to the cranium (one on right orbitofrontal area and the other on right dorsolateral parietal area) connected to a direct current stimulator with 2 ?A intensity (Hesse 2011). This stimulation is able to generate a long-term increase or decrease in the neuronal excitability that can modulate cognitive tasks, similar to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (Fertonani 2010). MATERIALS AND METHODS One patient with TBI was recruited from BrainCare Clinic Center. Clinical and demographical characteristics of the participant are here summarized: Name : P. Age : 40 Education :13 years Job : unemployed Time from injury: 17 years GCS: 10 RESULT Table 1 shows pre, post and follow-up scores on the languages batteries Tab. 1. Pre, post andfollow-up scores CONCLUSIONS After two weeks we found a clear improvement in the subtest description of complex picture, repetition of phrases and sentences, listening comprehension of nouns and phrases, written comprehension of sentences, reading non-nouns, dictation of verbs . P. shows again some difficulties to the performance of dictation of phrases. These results confirm the literature data and provide valuable insights to join tDCS stimulation to standard rehabilitation of language. REFERENCES Fertonani, A., Rosini, S., Cotelli, M., Rossini, P.M., Miniussi, C. (2010). Naming facilitation induced by transcranial direct current stimulation. Behavioural Brain Research 208: 311-318; H esse, S., Waldner, A., Mehrholz, J., Tomelleri, C., Pohl, M., Werner, C. (2011). Combined transcranial direct current stimulation and robot-assisted arm training in subacute stroke patients: an exploratory, randomized multicenter trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 25(9): 838-46; M arangolo, P., Marinelli, C.V., Bonifazi, S., Fiori, V., Ceravolo, M.G., Provinciali, L., et al. (2011). Electrical stimulation over the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) determines long-term effects the recovery of speech apraxia in three chronic aphasics. Behavioural Brain Research 225(2):498-504; REHABILITATION PROTOCOL We presented on the computer screen a series of images (showing natural and artificial objects); next, we presented short videos with an actor mimicking a daily action, such as sweeping or drinking. The task of the patient was to nominate the object or the action mimed. We recorded accuracy and response latency. Phase 1 - Evaluation: we administered two language evaluation batteries: Esame del linguaggio II e ENPA (Esame Neurologico Per l'Afasia), to examine the starting skills in areas relating to: naming, comprehension, repetition, reading and writing. Phase 2 - Protocol: for two weeks, with daily frequency, is administered a cycle of tDCS of the duration of 20 minutes. During treatment, the patient are presented stimuli (as described above). Immediately after each cycle of tDCS two additional tests of phonemic verbal and semantic fluency are presented. Each session ends with a guided spontaneous speech in which the subject is asked to talk about a predetermined topic for a few minutes. Phase 3 - Evaluation : at the end of the two weeks, we administered the same language evaluation batteries, to underline any changes that occurred following treatment. Phase 4 - Follow up: after 6 months we did a further assessment as to whether the results obtained from the treatment were maintained over time. Un service SANTOR EDITION
Transcript of High technology for aphasia rehabilitation - braincare.it fileHigh technology for aphasia...
High technology for aphasia rehabilitationM. Tonello FABIO1, M. Corazza FRANCESCO1, Mme Tebaldi FRANCESCA1, Pr Cantagallo ANNA1
(1)BrainCare s.r.l., Padua, Italy
INTRODUCTION
The starting point for this study were the interesting results in the rehabilitation ofaphasia, identified through the application of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), which show improvements in access to language, especiallyin the recovery of nouns and verbs (Marangolo 2011). In our study we administered it via saline-soaked surface sponge electrodesattached to the cranium (one on right orbitofrontal area and the other on rightdorsolateral parietal area) connected to a direct current stimulator with 2 ?Aintensity (Hesse 2011). This stimulation is able to generate a long-term increase ordecrease in the neuronal excitability that can modulate cognitive tasks, similar torepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (Fertonani 2010).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One patient with TBI was recruited from BrainCareClinic Center. Clinical and demographicalcharacteristics of the participant are here summarized:Name : P. Age : 40 Education :13 years Job: unemployed Time from injury: 17 years GCS: 10
RESULT
Table 1 shows pre, post and follow-up scores on thelanguages batteries
Tab. 1. Pre, post andfollow-up scores
CONCLUSIONS
After two weeks we found a clearimprovement in the subtest description ofcomplex picture, repetition of phrases andsentences, listening comprehension ofnouns and phrases, writtencomprehension of sentences, readingnon-nouns, dictation of verbs . P. showsagain some difficulties to the performance ofdictation of phrases.These results confirm the literature data andprovide valuable insights to join tDCSstimulation to standard rehabilitation oflanguage.
REFERENCES
Fertonani, A., Rosini, S., Cotelli, M., Rossini, P.M.,Miniussi, C. (2010). Naming facilitation induced bytranscranial direct current stimulation. BehaviouralBrain Research 208: 311-318;
H esse, S., Waldner, A., Mehrholz, J., Tomelleri,C., Pohl, M., Werner, C. (2011). Combined transcranial direct current stimulationand robot-assisted arm training in subacute strokepatients: an exploratory, randomized multicentertrial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair 25(9):838-46;
M arangolo, P., Marinelli, C.V., Bonifazi, S., Fiori,V., Ceravolo, M.G., Provinciali, L., et al. (2011). Electrical stimulation over the inferior frontal gyrus(IFG) determines long-term effects the recovery ofspeech apraxia in three chronic aphasics.Behavioural Brain Research 225(2):498-504;
REHABILITATION PROTOCOL
We presented on the computer screen a series of images (showing natural andartificial objects); next, we presented short videos with an actor mimicking a dailyaction, such as sweeping or drinking. The task of the patient was to nominate theobject or the action mimed. We recorded accuracy and response latency.Phase 1 - Evaluation: we administered two language evaluation batteries:Esame del linguaggio II e ENPA (Esame Neurologico Per l'Afasia), to examine thestarting skills in areas relating to: naming, comprehension, repetition, reading andwriting.Phase 2 - Protocol: for two weeks, with daily frequency, is administered a cycleof tDCS of the duration of 20 minutes. During treatment, the patient are presentedstimuli (as described above). Immediately after each cycle of tDCS two additionaltests of phonemic verbal and semantic fluency are presented. Each session endswith a guided spontaneous speech in which the subject is asked to talk about apredetermined topic for a few minutes.Phase 3 - Evaluation: at the end of the two weeks, we administered the samelanguage evaluation batteries, to underline any changes that occurred followingtreatment. Phase 4 - Follow up: after 6 months we did a further assessment as to whetherthe results obtained from the treatment were maintained over time.
Un service SANTOR EDITION
