A Study of the Different Effects of Combined High-frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy and Intensive Speech Language Hearing Therapy between Stimulation Sides and Regions Identified by Subscales of the Standard Language Test of Aphasia in Post-stroke Aphasia
- VernacularTitle:失語症検査細項目を用いた脳卒中後失語症に対する高頻度反復性経頭蓋磁気刺激治療併用集中的言語聴覚療法の刺激部位別効果についての検討
- Author:
Kensuke OHARA
1
;
Takuya HADA
2
;
Minori YAMADA
1
;
Yuina KOUTOU
1
;
Yasuhide NAKAYAMA
1
;
Masahiro ABO
2
Author Information
- Keywords: stroke; aphasia; high-frequency rTMS; speech language hearing therapy; deviation scores
- From:The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;():23048-
- CountryJapan
- Language:ja
- Abstract: Objective: In recent years, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown promise in treating aphasia. While previous reports used the Standard Language Test of Aphasia (SLTA) for evaluation of language functions, the difficulty level of each task in SLTA varies. To show the effects of rTMS in more detail, it is necessary to use weighted values for the SLTA scores. This study aimed to assess the impact of high-frequency rTMS on aphasia using the deviation values of the SLTA.Methods: Thirty-one post-stroke aphasic patients participated in this study [mean (SD) age 58.0 (10.1) years, 15 infarction and 16 hemorrhage] from 2017 to 2021. The average (SD) duration from the onset of stroke to the intervention was 41.1 (31.1) months. Prior to admission, brain sites for rTMS were determined by detecting activation during the word-repeat task using functional MRI. A two-week inpatient treatment, including daily high-frequency rTMS and speech language hearing therapy (excluding Sundays), was conducted. In statistical analysis, SLTA scores were converted into deviation values, with participants grouped by rTMS sites (frontal lobe, temporal lobe, left/right hemisphere) for pre- and post-treatment comparisons.Results: rTMS sites included right frontal lobe (6 cases), left frontal lobe (10 cases), right temporal lobe (5 cases), and left temporal lobe (10 cases). Pre- and post-treatment comparisons showed significant improvements in overall mean scores and speech items in all groups. Additionally, significant enhancements in auditory comprehension items were observed in the right hemisphere and frontal lobe stimulation groups.Conclusion: High-frequency rTMS shows promise that it can improve language function regardless of the stimulation site, and auditory comprehension may be improved specifically by the right hemisphere and left frontal lobe stimulation. This suggests its potential as a valuable therapeutic intervention.
