NIH Reporter #5R21DC020548-03

Motor Imagery for Treatment Enhancement and Efficacy (MI-TEE) in Persons with Apraxia of Speech

This award funds the development and evaluation of a home-based motor imagery protocol (MI-TEE) to enhance speech therapy outcomes for persons with apraxia of speech, aiming to improve accessibility and reduce costs of treatment.

Description

Treatment of post-stroke apraxia of speech (AOS) requires frequent and ongoing practice with a speech-language pathologist to facilitate lasting behavioral change, which is costly and, therefore, inaccessible to many patients. This project aims to develop an effective, home-practice, computer-based, motor imagery protocol (MI-TEE) as an adjunct to routine speech therapy to optimize treatment response in persons with AOS. The objectives are to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of MI-TEE as a home practice program and to determine its efficacy when combined with speech therapy compared to speech therapy alone in improving speech production. The research involves single-subject experimental designs with multiple baselines across 18 participants, collecting observational data, surveys, interviews, and speech accuracy measures. The goal is to establish a practical, accessible tool to increase independent practice, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce costs associated with in-person speech therapy, laying the foundation for a larger clinical trial.

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