Be one of ten SLPs building the first English-language normative dataset for bedside aphasia and dysarthria screening.
At A Glance
IUHW Ethics Review
Approved May 29, 2026
Multinational Pilot Completed
January 2026, n = 11, three countries
Presented At ASHA Convention 2024
ICMJE-Aligned Authorship
USD 25 to 30 Per Participant
What This Project Is
The Screening Test for Aphasia and Dysarthria (STAD) is a brief bedside instrument developed in Japan, where it has been published, multicenter-validated, and adopted in clinical practice. We are now in the initial phase of a broader effort to extend STAD to native English-speaking populations.
Join a rare multinational initiative to establish cross-cultural normative reference data for an SLP screening tool. The goal of this phase is to collect data from 100 healthy native English-speaking adults across age and education strata in order to establish baseline reference ranges for STAD 3.0.
Ten collaborating SLPs will each contribute between 3 to 20 participants from their professional network. The combined dataset will form the empirical foundation for the first peer-reviewed publication of the English version of STAD.
What You’ll Do Four Core Tasks
Recruit healthy native English-speaking adults from your professional or personal network.
Administer STAD 3.0 in person using the paper-based protocol.
Score the test and anonymize the data.
Submit the anonymized scoring file by email.
Time Per Participant
STAD administration averages 4 minutes 27 seconds in healthy adults, based on our pilot data. The shorter administration time reflects performance in healthy adults; the 10-minute estimate refers to typical clinical use. Including scoring, anonymization, and submission,the full per-participant workload is approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
Minimum Commitment
We welcome collaborators who can contribute at least 3 participants — approximately 60 to 90 minutes total. Larger contributions are particularly valuable, and up to 20 participants per collaborator may be especially useful for population coverage. If your circumstances differ, please feel free to contact us before applying.
Participant Balance
We aim for a representative sample across age and education strata. Collaborators who can recruit participants aged 80 or older, or with 9 or fewer years of formal education, are particularly welcome. Specific demographic requests may be made later in the study as the cohort fills.
Optional Contributions
- Qualitative feedback on the English phrasing and cultural appropriateness of STAD items
- For collaborators who wish to contribute beyond data collection, opportunities to join
project meetings, review the manuscript, or contribute to the writing process may also be available
What You’ll Receive
Who Can Apply
To preserve methodological rigor for this first English normative dataset, eligibility is intentionally narrow.
Required
- Licensed or certified Speech-Language Pathologist
e.g., CCC-SLP, RCSLT, SAC-OAC, SPA, NZSTA, IASLT - Native English speaker
- Currently practicing in an English-speaking country
US / UK / Canada / Australia / New Zealand / Ireland
Not Eligible At This Phase
- Students and trainees
- Related professions (audiologists, linguists, neuropsychologists, etc.)
- Non-native English speakers
How It Works
Test Format
STAD 3.0 is administered in person using a paper-based protocol.
Data Submission
Anonymized scoring files are submitted by email.
Training And Support
- A STAD 3.0 administration and scoring manual is provided
- An optional Zoom orientation is available for collaborators who prefer a live walk-through
- A group session may be scheduled for collaborators who would like to meet others in the cohort
- Throughout the study, questions can be directed to the PI by email, with 1:1 Zoom support available when needed
Ethics And Consent
The study protocol has been reviewed by the IUHW Ethics Committee (Approval No. 26-CN-006). Depending on your institution and country, additional IRB review or exemption determination at your site may be required. We will provide individual guidance during onboarding.
Withdrawal
Participation is voluntary. You may withdraw at any time without penalty.
Language
English only at this phase. Multilingual expansion is planned for future development.
A Rigorous Development Pathway
The English version of STAD has been developed through a staged, iterative process. Each version has been refined using feedback from international speech-language pathologists and pilot data. Here, version numbers refer to the English adaptation of STAD, distinct from the original Japanese instrument.
Origins In Japan (2018)
STAD was originally developed and published in 2018 in Japan, where it has since been standardized in Japanese healthy controls and validated in a multicenter study.
It is currently used in Japanese clinical practice.
STAD 1.0 — International Content Validity Review (December 2024)
The English version, STAD 1.0, underwent an international content validity review by 11 speech-language pathologists from multiple countries, generating 147 item-level ratings. Items receiving the lowest validity ratings became the primary focus of the next round of revisions. STAD 1.0 was presented at the ASHA Convention 2024.
STAD 2.0 — Pilot Study 1 (October 2025)
Revised items were incorporated into STAD 2.0, which was piloted with 5 healthy adult participants to test feasibility.
STAD 2.1 — Pilot Study 2 (January 2026)
Further refinements yielded STAD 2.1, which was piloted with 11 healthy adult participants across 3 countries, supported by an international group of SLPs. The pilot confirmed feasibility but also revealed ceiling effects in healthy adults.
STAD 3.0 — The Current Version
STAD 3.0 is the version refined for the present normative study, incorporating findings from previous validation work and pilot testing. A dedicated administration and scoring manual has been developed to support standardized administration and enhance inter-rater reliability.
Voices From Collaborators
Jessica Galgano, PhD, CCC-SLPFounder and CEO, Open Lines Speech and Communication, P.C.; PhD, Columbia University
"As a clinician and researcher who has spent a career working with neurogenic cognitive, communication, and motor speech disorders, I understand how much a brief and reliable bedside screen can shape the course of care. STAD is efficient, thoughtfully designed, and genuinely practical at the bedside, and the work to establish English normative data is an important step toward equitable screening for aphasia and dysarthria across diverse populations. I am proud to support Dr. Araki and this project, and I believe STAD has a meaningful role to play in clinical practice worldwide."
Masako Fujiu-Kurachi, PhD, CCC-SLPProfessor, International University of Health and Welfare
"Standardized in Japan, STAD is now entering a pivotal phase of cross-cultural validation for its English version. Dr. Araki has incorporated it into our graduate program, and I look forward to seeing STAD widely adopted as an effective, low-burden screening tool for communication disorders in clinical practice."
KJ, CCC-SLPUnited States
"Before STAD, I was concerned about the lack of standardized assessments in acute care, and the lack of time available to administer existing tools. When I received the study-related email, I contacted him right away. It has been an excellent learning experience and helped me learn how to conduct research."
About The Principal Investigator
Kentaro Araki
PhD
Department of Rehabilitation Technology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Japan
Dr. Araki received his PhD from Chiba University in 2019 and specializes in the assessment of neurogenic communication disorders, with a particular focus on practical bedside screening for aphasia and dysarthria. He is the developer of STAD, which was originally published in 2018 and has since been standardized in Japanese healthy controls, validated through multicenter research, and adopted in clinical practice.
He is currently leading the international standardization of the English version of STAD.
Selected References
Selected Publications
Araki K, Hirano Y, Kozono M, Fujitani J, Shimizu E. The Screening Test for Aphasia and Dysarthria (STAD) for Patients with Neurological Communicative Disorders: A Large-Scale, Multicenter Validation Study in Japan. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica. 2022;74(3):195–208. doi: 10.1159/000519381
Araki K, Hirano Y, Kurita K, Shimizu E. Associations Between Non-Verbal Cognitive Assessment and Stroke Recovery via Screening Test for Aphasia and Dysarthria. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. 2025;34(2):108217. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.108217
Selected Presentations
Araki K, Jackson K, Fujiu-Kurachi M. Cross-Cultural Validation Study of the Screening Test for Aphasia and Dysarthria (STAD). ASHA Convention, Seattle, WA, USA, December 2024.
Araki K, Hirano Y, Kozono M, Shimizu E. Predicting Discharge to Home and Brain Lesions Using the Screening Test for Aphasia and Dysarthria (STAD). ASHA Convention, Washington, DC, USA, November 2021.
Cohort Size
intentionally small and selective.
Key Dates
- Ethics Committee review
- May 29, 2026
- Recruitment opens
- July 1, 2026
- Recruitment closes
- July 31, 2026
- Data submission deadline
- November 2026
Slots are limited. Early confirmation helps secure your place.
Frequently Asked Questions
QDo I need IRB approval at my own institution?
The study protocol has been reviewed by the IUHW Ethics Committee (Approval No. 26-CN-006). IUHW-approved English consent materials will be provided. We will offer individual guidance on whether additional review or exemption is needed at your site.
QHow long does it take per participant?
STAD administration averages 4 minutes 27 seconds in healthy adults. The shorter administration time reflects performance in healthy adults; the 10-minute estimate refers to typical clinical use. With scoring, anonymization, and submission, the full workload is approximately 20 to 30 minutes per participant.
QWhat is the minimum number of participants?
We welcome collaborators who can contribute at least 3 participants. If your circumstances differ, please feel free to contact us before applying.
QWill I be a co-author on the publication?
Co-authorship follows ICMJE criteria. Collaborators meeting the criteria for substantive intellectual contribution will be invited as co-authors. Others will be listed in the Acknowledgments.
QWhat is the difference between STAD 1.0 and STAD 3.0?
STAD 1.0 is an earlier version of the test from 2024 and has since been substantially revised. STAD 3.0 is the current research-grade version used in the normative study and is available only to confirmed research collaborators.
QHow is the honorarium paid?
JPY 4,000 per participant (approximately USD 25 to 30). Once all data have been received, the total amount will be transferred in a single lump-sum payment from International University of Health and Welfare to your designated bank account. All bank transfer fees are covered by the university. You will also be asked to submit a brief invoice. Further payment details will be provided individually after confirmation.
QCan I withdraw mid-study?
Yes. Participation is voluntary, and you may withdraw at any time without penalty.
QHow are participants recruited?
By the collaborator, from their own professional or personal network. We may request specific demographic strata, such as participants aged 80 or older or with 9 or fewer years of education, as the cohort fills.
QHow are participant data handled?
All data are anonymized at the time of data entry, submitted by email, and managed under the IUHW IRB framework. No identifying information is retained.
QWill I be publicly listed as a collaborator?
Only with your consent. Listing on the STAD Collaborators page (name, affiliation, country) is opt-in.
QAre there commercial plans for STAD?
Is there a conflict of interest? STAD may be developed into commercial products in the future. Participation as a research collaborator in this study does not confer rights or licenses to future commercial versions of STAD. Honoraria and authorship recognition are the only forms of compensation tied to this study.
QWhat if I cannot deliver 3 participants?
Please contact us before applying. We will discuss whether a modified arrangement is appropriate for your situation.
QWho can be recruited as a healthy participant?
Participants should be native English-speaking adults with no known history of neurological disease, communication disorder, or major cognitive impairment. Detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria will be provided in the study materials.
Apply As A Research Collaborator
If you meet the eligibility criteria and expect to contribute at least three participants by July 31, 2026, we encourage you to apply below.
Recruitment will close once ten collaborators are confirmed.
Not Ready To Collaborate? Stay Connected.
STAD 1.0 reflects the test as of 2024 and has since been substantially revised. The current research-grade STAD 3.0 is available only to confirmed research collaborators.
If you would like to follow STAD's development, you may join our interest list to receive STAD 1.0 for reference, together with occasional updates through the STAD newsletter.
Includes
- Scoring sheet
- Brief guide
Use Rights For STAD 1.0
- Personal clinical use
- permitted
- Research use
- separate permission required
- Commercial use
- not permitted
Department of Rehabilitation Technology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Japan
Contact: [kentaro-araki@ihwg.jp] STAD Official Website: Dr. Araki's STAD Resource Page
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