Electric Brain Stimulation can help improve aphasia after stroke.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) vs Sham Stimulation was shown to be effective to treat Aphasia in patients who suffered from stroke. Aphasi is difficulty with expressing or understanding spoken language. Usual treatment that is most effective for aphasia is a behavioral speech therapy, but therapy outcomes are variable and full recovery is not always achieved. In a recent study 74 patients with long-term aphasia who received 3 weeks of therapy coupled with either anodal tDCS or sham tDCS. tDCS was provided during speech therapy. Correct naming of words was significantly improved in patients with adjunct tDCS therapy.Phoresor II PM850 machine was used to deliver the intervention for tDCS using 1 mA current induced between two 5 × 5 cm saline-soaked sponges (electrodes). The anode electrode was placed on the left scalp over a targeted cortical region and the cathode electrode was placed on the contralateral supraorbital frontal scalp region (above the right eyebrow). Special brain imaging was used to locate the appropriate area of the brain to stimulate. Stimulation was given for 20 min during speech therapy provided that involved matching pictures with words. Although naming is not synonymous with speech production, naming impairment is directly associated with poor quality of life in patients with aphasia. Side effect included scalp reddening (erythema) in 6% of individuals but was mild and resolved within 1 to 2 days (JAMA Neurology 2018;75(12):1470-1476).