ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04026581Updated Dec 6, 2023

Real World Testing of a Brain-Computer Interface

An observational study in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Brain Stem Stroke and Cerebral Palsy, sponsored by University of Pittsburgh. Completed at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 14 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-12-06.

Sponsored by University of Pittsburgh · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Case-only
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
19
Ages
14 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this project is to test a new AAC-BCI device comparing gel and dry electrode headgear used for communication while providing clinical care. Innovative resources will be employed to support the standard of care without considering limitations based on service billing codes. Clinical services will include AAC assessment, AAC-BCI device and treatment to individuals with minimal movement due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brain stem strokes, severe cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their family support person. This is a descriptive study designed to measure and monitor the communication performance of individuals using the AAC-BCI, any other AAC strategies, their user satisfaction and perceptions of communication effectiveness, and the satisfaction of the family support persons.

Read the detailed description

This clinical trial follows a descriptive study design collecting data to measure and monitor variables related to the standard of care in providing speech language pathology augmentative and alternative communication clinical (AAC) assessment and treatment. The study tracks participants through the AAC, speech generating device trial and AAC-BCI trial processes. In addition this study measures and monitors the communication performance of individuals using the AAC-BCI and any other AAC strategies for treatment in the home. Data on communication performance, user satisfaction, and perceptions of communication effectiveness are gathered over monthly visits along with the satisfaction and perceptions of communication effectiveness by the family support persons.

02

Conditions studied

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Brain Stem Stroke
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Speech Disorders
03

In context

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

978 studies on the registry are indexed under Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; 277 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 19 is below the median of 108 across 265 observational studies indexed under Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Browse Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Pittsburgh is the lead sponsor of 1,419 studies on the registry; 168 are open to participants now.

Of its 9 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 4 (44%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
14 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Individuals with severe communication disabilities and minimal movement impairment.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • natural speech does not meet daily communication needs requiring using a speech generating device
  • Has a diagnosis resulting in minimal movement interfering with direct selection to a keyboard or AAC display
  • age 14 and above
  • able to read a standard computer screen
  • able to follow instructions
  • English as their native language

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • history of photosensitive epilepsy
  • open sores on the scalp
  • history of uncorrectable hearing loss
  • unavailable to participate during the times scheduled for the study
05

Study design

Observational model
Case-only
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
19 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Assessment

    A comprehensive AAC assessment collecting clinical and personal data required to select a speech-generating device (SGD) is conducted along with a trial of three AAC technology solutions, followed by a trial for BCI access to an AAC system.

    Behavioral: Speech generating device (SGD) evaluation including BCI access

  • Training and Treatment

    AAC training and treatment services will be provided and communication performance outcomes monitored over the course of studying clinical treatment services. At monthly home visits the SLP gathers clinical and personal data on communication performance outcomes and user satisfaction of their AAC system and any alternative access methods.

    Behavioral: Training and treatment

Interventions

  • BehavioralSpeech generating device (SGD) evaluation including BCI access

    At the initial evaluation the participants will review the full range of AAC options and speech generating devices (SGDs) and complete a speech and language evaluation. The second evaluation date will involve a trial of SGDs matched to the participant's assessment results. The third visit is the trial of an AAC system with BCI access. Should the dry electrode headgear for BCI access prove ineffective, then the gel electrode cap will be offered to the participant for trial. At the end of the third visit, the evaluation results will be discussed with participant and family, and they will be asked to select the preferred SGD.

  • BehavioralTraining and treatment

    Participants receive training on the selected SGD followed by monthly treatment sessions from the SLP who monitors performance. In some cases the participants' SGD will be an AAC system with BCI access. In this case training will also include an identified system support person. Use of the SGD is monitored on a monthly basis through home visits and/or tele-practice sessions, when requested. Technical support for the SGD is provided on an as needed basis or when requested by the participant or support person.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: Baseline vs. 1 month

  2. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 1 month vs. 2 months

  3. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 2 months vs. 3 months

  4. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 3 months vs. 4 months

  5. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 4 months vs. 5 months

  6. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 5 months vs. 6 months

  7. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 6 months vs. 7 months

  8. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 7 months vs. 8 months

  9. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 8 months vs. 9 months

  10. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 9 months vs. 10 months

  11. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 10 months vs. 11 months

  12. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 11 months vs. 12 months

  13. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 12 months vs. 13 months

  14. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 13 months vs. 14 months

  15. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 14 months vs. 15 months

  16. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 15 months vs. 16 months

  17. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 16 months vs. 17 months

  18. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 17 months vs. 18 months

  19. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 18 months vs. 19 months

  20. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 19 months vs. 20 months

  21. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 20 months vs. 21 months

  22. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 21 months vs. 22 months

  23. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 22 months vs. 23 months

  24. Change in daily communication performance

    Monitoring daily use of a speech generating device (SGD) for communication. Average communication rate based on total number of words used during the day.

    Time frame: 23 months vs. 24 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: Baseline vs. 1 month

  2. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 1 month vs. 2 months

  3. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 2 months vs. 3 months

  4. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 3 months vs. 4 months

  5. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 4 months vs. 5 months

  6. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 5 months vs. 6 months

  7. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 6 months vs. 7 months

  8. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 7 months vs. 8 months

  9. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 8 months vs. 9 months

  10. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 9 months vs. 10 months

  11. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 10 months vs. 11 months

  12. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 11 months vs. 12 months

  13. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 12 months vs. 13 months

  14. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 13 months vs. 14 months

  15. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 14 months vs. 15 months

  16. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) or daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 15 months vs. 16 months

  17. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 16 months vs. 17 months

  18. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 17 months vs. 18 months

  19. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 18 months vs. 19 months

  20. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 19 months vs. 20 months

  21. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 20 months vs. 21 months

  22. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 21 months vs. 22 months

  23. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 22 months vs. 23 months

  24. User satisfaction of speech generating device (SGD) for daily communication

    Rating scale of user satisfaction with a range of 0-21 with a lower score representing a better outcome.

    Time frame: 23 months vs. 24 months

07

Study locations

2 sites
  • AAC Institute Clinic (ICAN Talk Clinic)
    Carnegie, Pennsylvania 15102, United States
  • University of Pittsburgh, AAC Performance and Testing Laboratory
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices)

Supporting information: Study protocol

Time frame: Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication.

Access criteria: Investigators whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Jun 2019 to primary completion in Sep 2023, 51 months.

Of 127 non-industry observational studies under Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, half reached primary completion within 67 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 30 and three quarters within 125. This study's 51 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 136 studies reached it within 64 months; a quarter within 29 and three quarters within 114.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jul 17, 2019
First posted
Jul 19, 2019
StartActual
Jun 5, 2019
Primary completionActual
Sep 30, 2023
CompletionActual
Sep 30, 2023
Last update
Dec 6, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 6, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04026581
Collaborators
National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
Responsible party
Katya Hill (Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 19, 2019
Start date
Jun 5, 2019
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2023
Completion
Sep 30, 2023
Last update
Dec 6, 2023

Study contacts

Katya Hill, PhD
principal investigator · University of Pittsburgh

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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