Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) for Facilitating Swallowing Improvement After an Acute Unilateral Hemispheric Stroke

Phase 2CompletedNCT01132066

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center19 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of the research study is to investigate the effect of a brain stimulation technique called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) in improving swallowing functions in subjects who develop dysphagia after a unilateral hemispheric infarction.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Dysphagia

Interventions

tDCSOTHER

tDCS will lead to an increase in cortical excitability

ShamOTHER

Sham will provide identical subjective sensation as tDCS

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 21 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Acute ischemic stroke * Between 24-168 hours after onset * Moderate to severe dysphagia based on swallowing assessment Exclusion Criteria: * Preexisting swallowing impairment * Intracerebral hemorrhage * Pacemaker of other electrically sensitive device

Locations (1)

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale Score (DOSS)

DOSS is a validated swallowing assessment scoring system that will rate the severity of dysphagia. It will be performed by a speech and swallow pathologist.

Time frame: 5 days after study enrollment

Secondary Outcomes

Incidence of seizure

Number of patient having seizures during the 5 sessions of stimulation in either groups will be tabulated and compared.

Time frame: 5 days after study enrollment

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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