Efficacy of Dual Mirror Therapy on Naming Recovery in Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This single-blind, randomized controlled trial aims to observe the effect of Dual Mirror Therapy (DMT) on naming function in patients with post-stroke aphasia (PSA).

Forty patients with post-stroke hand dysfunction and expressive aphasia were randomized to either a Dual Mirror Therapy group (DMTG, n=20) receiving combined DMT and conventional speech training, or a Control Group (CG, n=19) receiving speech training alone. Both groups completed the 4-week intervention. Naming ability and aphasia severity were assessed before and after using the Chinese Rehabilitation Research Center Aphasia Examination (CRRCAE) and the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (BDAE). Data were analyzed with t-tests, Chi-square, and rank-sum tests (significance at P<0.05).

Following the intervention, CRRCAE naming scores improved significantly in both groups (P<0.001), with a greater increase observed in the DMTG versus the CG (t=2.689, P=0.011).Intergroup comparisons significantly favored the DMTG in: BDAE grade distribution (χ²=5.718, P=0.017), significant improvement rate (45.00% vs. 10.53%; χ² =5.718, P=0.017), and total effective rate (95.00% vs. 68.42%; χ²=4.467, P=0.031).

DMT showed a good safety profile with no treatment-related adverse events. It significantly improves naming function and reduces aphasia severity in patients with PSA, presenting a safe and effective adjuvant therapy for aphasia.