This study will investigate using a modified response elaboration training program utilizing visual and auditory stimuli on discourse skill recovery in African Americans with non-fluent aphasia. All person interactions and treatment will occur in a remote telehealth setting and will not extend beyond 13 therapy sessions. The investigator will provide all subjects with language intervention utilizing a modified Response Elaboration Training [RET] program, which will include subjects viewing a randomized pool of 27 pictures that are culturally responsive paired with sentence prompts to assess their verbal expression skills before and after treatment has been applied. After completing all needed treatment visits, participants will receive a $25 gift card. Incomplete participation will not result in a gift card for compensation.

This study will provide language therapy using a revised language treatment called Response Elaboration Training to African Americans and black persons to improve speaking skills. This treatment will use pictures and words. The study will take place online (on a computer) only. No in-person meetings. 13 treatment visits only. No cost to join. Once all treatment visits in the study are over, a $25 gift card will be paid. No gift cards for not finishing the study.

Inclusion criteria: -English-speaking individuals who identify as Black or African American, live in Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, or Mississippi -Were diagnosed with an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke a minimum 6-months post-onset -Can follow 1 step directions -Can respond accurately to basic yes and no questions -Have adequate premorbid speech and language skills -Individuals must also present with a communication disorder consistent with non-fluent aphasia, Broca’s, or Transcortical Motor type, excluding Global aphasia as determined through formal aphasia testing. Exclusion criteria: -Diagnosed with a stroke less than 6 months ago -Global and fluent aphasias including types: Wernicke’s, anomia, conduction, and transcortical sensory -Co-existing neurological disorders such as dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease), primary progressive aphasia or multiple sclerosis -Vision and/or hearing impairments that cannot otherwise be remediated with assistive devices (i.e., eyeglasses, hearing aids) are not to be included in this study -Medical records will be required to confirm the diagnosis of the stroke and the time since onset.

Stephanie Austin

stephanie.austin@rm.edu

Stroke

Treatment

Language therapy - Modified Response Elaboration Training

13 treatment sessions. Treatment sessions will be 30 to 45 minutes long.

December 16, 2025

$25 reimbursement to participants for completion of all treatment sessions. There is no cost to join the study.

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