Retrospective Study on the Effects of Intensive Speech Therapy Combined with Two Courses of High-Frequency rTMS on Language Function in Patients with Aphasia

Abstract

Purpose

The longitudinal effects of combining intensive speech therapy (ST) with two separate courses of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) for aphasia remain unclear. This study retrospectively investigated longitudinal changes in language function in patients who underwent this combined protocol.

Methods

Sixteen patients with chronic aphasia underwent two courses of 2-week inpatient treatment combining fMRI-guided HF-rTMS and intensive ST between April 2018 and February 2025. The Standard Language Test of Aphasia (SLTA) total and modality-specific raw scores were assessed at four time points: at the 1st admission, 3 months after the 1st discharge, at the 2nd admission, and 3 months after the 2nd discharge.

Results

The mean SLTA total raw score significantly improved over time: 147 ± 51.6 at the 1st admission, 157 ± 49.9 at 3 months after the 1^st discharge, 159 ± 48.8 at the 2nd admission, and 163 ± 50.2 at 3 months after the 2nd discharge. Significant improvements in speech function were observed in the Overall, Fluent Aphasia, and Non-fluent Aphasia groups. Notably, therapeutic effects were maintained without decline between the two admissions.

Conclusions

Two courses of HF-rTMS combined with intensive ST may be effective for the long-term improvement of language function, particularly speech function, in patients with chronic aphasia.