Changes in Neuroplasticity Following Intensive Rehabilitation of Aphasia and/or Apraxia of Speech

Aphasia and apraxia of speech are communication disorders that can occur after a stroke. Aphasia affects a person's ability to speak, understand language, read, and write. Apraxia of speech is a motor disorder making it difficult to coordinate the mouth movements needed to speak clearly. Both conditions can be profoundly isolating and impact quality of life. Intensive rehabilitation — doing many hours of targeted speech therapy in a short period — has shown promise as an effective treatment. This study is examining what happens in the brain during and after intensive rehabilitation for these conditions. Using brain imaging techniques like functional MRI, researchers will track changes in brain structure and activity (called neuroplasticity) before and after treatment. The goal is to understand which brain changes are associated with the best recovery, helping to improve future rehabilitation programs. You may be eligible if: - You are between 18 and 75 years old - You have been diagnosed with aphasia or apraxia of speech at least 7 months after a stroke - The diagnosis was made by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) You may NOT be eligible if: - You have dementia - You have severe vision loss - You have severe hearing loss - You have metal implants that prevent MRI scanning - You have claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) that prevents MRI scanning Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.