Rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke aphasia using transcranial direct current electrical stimulation (tDCS)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke aphasia is an important medical and social goal. The use of traditional methods of rehabilitation is often not effective enough, which forces us to look for new methods aimed at restoring lost functions.
 AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation using transcranial direct electric current stimulation (tDCS) in patients with post-stroke aphasia.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: 28 patients with motor post-stroke aphasia were examined according to the method of L.S. Tsvetkova with co-authors. All patients received a traditional rehabilitation complex: psychological and correctional classes with a speech therapist-aphasiologist; neurometabolic therapy. 14 patients (Group I) additionally had transcranial direct electric current stimulation; 14 patients had placebo transcranial direct electric current stimulation.
 RESULTS: All patients with post-stroke aphasia showed an improvement in expressive and impressive speech, however, in patients who had true transcranial direct electric current stimulation, the improvement in expressive and impressive speech was higher than in patients who had placebo transcranial direct electric current stimulation. There were no complications from the use of transcranial direct electric current stimulation.
 CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that it is expedient to include the non-invasive transcranial direct electric current stimulation method in the rehabilitation of patients with post-stroke aphasia.