OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the clinical efficacy on post-stroke speech disorder between scalp electric acupuncture (EA) under anatomic orientation combined with rehabilitation training and simple rehabilitation training.

METHODSSixty patients of post-stroke speech apraxia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the observation group, under anatomic orientation, the scalp EA was adopted to the dominant hemisphere Broca area on the left cerebrum. Additionally, the speech rehabilitation training was combined. In the control group, the speech rehabilitation training was simply,used. The treatment lasted for 4 weeks totally. The speech movement program module in the psychological language assessment and treatment system of Chinese aphasia was used for the evident of efficacy assessment. The scores of counting, singing scale, repeating phonetic alphabet, repeating monosyllable and repeating disyllable were observed in the patients of the two groups. The assessment was done separately on the day of grouping and 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSIn 4 weeks of treatment, the scores of counting, singing scale, repeating phonetic alphabet, repeating monosyllable and repeating disyllable were all improved as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0. 001). The results in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P< 0. 05). The total effective rate was 100. 0% (30/30) in the observation group, superior apparently to 53. 3% (16/30) in the control group (P<0. 001).

CONCLUSIONThe scalp EA under anatomic orientation combined with' speech rehabilitation training obviously improves speech apraxia in stroke patients so that the speech disorder cani be relieved. The efficacy is better than that in simple rehabilitation training.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Apraxias ; etiology ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Speech Disorders ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Speech Therapy ; Stroke ; complications ; Young Adult