Hearing Loss, Bilateral, Language Development
Conditions
Keywords
hearing loss, randomized clinical trial, intervention, language development
Brief summary
This study is testing the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication technology among deaf or hard of hearing children for improving language development. Children will be randomized to receive either the technology intervention or treatment as usual
Interventions
BEHAVIORALTechnology assisted language intervention
speech language therapy that has integrated technology delivered through specific software on an iPad
BEHAVIORALTreatment as usual
No change will occur to the current ongoing speech-language therapy being delivered.
Sponsors
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 10 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age 3-10 years * Documented permanent bilateral hearing loss with severity levels clinically defined moderate to profound). * Identified with a language deficit, defined by either the ratio of language standard scores to nonverbal intelligence quotient \<.85 or a differences in nonverbal IQ and language standard scores of 10 points. Language scores may either be receptive or expressive. * Currently receiving speech-language therapy.
Exclusion criteria
Mild hearing loss and unilateral hearing loss * primary language other than English * significant motor impairments * nonverbal IQ \<80 * children with severe communication disorders (i.e. autism spectrum disorders).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mean Length of Utterance in morphemes | 24 weeks | Measurement of syntax |
| Mean Turn Length | 24 weeks | Measurement of discourse |
| Number of different vocabulary words spoken | 24 weeks | measure of semantics |
| Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5th edition | 24 weeks | Provides receptive and expressive standard scores on a scale with a mean of 100 +/- 15standard deviations; higher scores indicate better/higher language skills |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Expressive Vocabulary Test 2nd edition | 24 weeks | Provides expressive vocabulary standard scores on a scale with a mean of 100 +/- 15standard deviations; higher scores indicate better/higher vocabulary skills |
| Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5th edition-pragmatics profile | 24 weeks | Provides pragmatic language scores as scaled scores (ranging from 1 to 15), age equivalents and percentile ranks |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJareen Meinzen-Derr
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Outcome results
None listed