Targeted language training combined with transcranial direct current therapy for Wernicke aphasia in the sequelae stage: A case report

oleh: Juan Yang, Huozhong Yuan

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Elsevier 2024-06-01

Deskripsi

Objective: To observe the effects of combining targeted language training with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on speech rehabilitation in senile stroke patients with Wernicke's aphasia in the sequelae stage. Methods: A patient with Wernicke's aphasia caused by stroke, 15 months prior, was successively treated with regimen A (targeted language training), regimen B (L-Wernicke area tDCS + targeted language training), and regimen C (R-Wernicke area tDCS + targeted language training) for a total of 3 weeks, with a 2-day washout period between each regimen. The accuracy of spontaneous speech, auditory word-picture matching, visual word-picture matching, retelling, graph-reading writing, and graph-reading naming items was evaluated and compared before treatment and 3 weeks after treatment with regimens A, B, and C. Results: After 3 weeks of the regimen A treatment, there was no significant improvement in each evaluation item. After 3 weeks of treatment with regimen B, the patient's spontaneous speech slightly improved, but the expression remained meaningless. Visual word-graph matching was slightly improved, but auditory word-graph matching was not. After 3 weeks of treatment with regimen C, the spontaneous speech of the patient's increased significantly, and the correct rates of auditory word-graph matching, visual word-graph matching, retelling, and picture reading and writing were significantly improved compared with those before treatment and after 3 weeks of treatment with regimens A and B (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Targeted language training combined with tDCS stimulation of the non-dominant Wernicke's area can improve spontaneous speech, auditory word-picture matching, visual word-picture matching, retelling, and picture reading and writing ability in elderly patients with Wernicke's aphasia after stroke, thus promoting speech rehabilitation.