Combining low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with melodic intonation therapy in the treatment of early post-stroke aphasia
10.3760/cma.j.cn421666-20250512-00409
- VernacularTitle:低频重复经颅磁刺激联合旋律音调疗法治疗脑卒中后早期失语症的疗效观察
- Author:
Huaping GUO
1
;
Chunyu YAO
1
;
Yunlong GE
1
;
Hua WANG
1
;
Lijie GOU
1
Author Information
1. 承德医学院附属医院康复医学科，河北省神经损伤与修复重点实验室，承德 067000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Transcranial magnetic stimulation;
Melodic intonation therapy;
Aphasia
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2025;47(11):973-977
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To observe the effect of combining low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with melodic intonation therapy (MIT) in the treatment of aphasia soon after a stroke.Methods:Sixty survivors of a recent stroke with aphasia were randomly divided into a control group, an MIT group and an observation group, each of 20. All received conventional rehabilitation therapy, but for 4 weeks the MIT group was additionally given MIT while the observation group received MIT plus 1Hz rTMS applied over the right inferior frontal gyrus and the posterior superior temporal gyrus. The intensity was 80% of the resting motor threshold. Before and after the treatment, language function and communication ability were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) and Communicative Activities of Daily Living (CADL) scale.Results:Significant improvements in the WAB and CADL scores and aphasia quotient (AQ) were observed in both the MIT group and the observation group after the treatment compared to their pre-treatment levels, but the observation group demonstrated significantly higher scores than the other two groups on all three assessments. The MIT group′s average scores were superior to those of the control group.Conclusions:Applying rTMS and MIT in combination significantly improves the speech and the daily communication abilities of aphasics early post-stroke, reducing the severity of their aphasia. The therapy exhibits considerable promise for clinical implementation.
