Stopped: Due to COVID-19
The 'Down syndrome speech intelligibility diagnostic treatment study' is a pilot clinical intervention study assessing the efficacy of an integrative speech treatment approach for individuals with Down syndrome (DS). This study will use a single-subject design with 10 male participants with DS, aged 7 to 16 years. The proposed intervention, combines two treatment approaches that are documented to be efficacious with other speech disorders: 1) The Cycles Phonological Remediation Approach, designed for highly unintelligible speech, as guided by the Hodson Assessment of Phonological Patterns (HAPP-3); and 2) Script training, a functional speech motor intervention that promotes phrase-level productions. During the twelve-week intensive intervention period, both approaches will be adapted to prioritize the production of words with low vowels to incorporate increased practice of the low-front and low-back vowels. This modification is based on the investigator's perceptual, acoustic and anatomic research findings. Outcome measures will include perceptual, intelligibility, and acoustic analyses obtained from acoustic recordings. These measures will be used to assess treatment efficacy, and to gain insight into the motoric versus anatomic limitations in speech production commonly present in individuals with DS.
Age range
7 Years – 16 Years
Sex
MALE
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The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Hodson Assessment of Phonological Patterns-3 (HAPP-3) Occurrence Scores
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-treatment), post-treatment (12 weeks), 1-month post-treatment (16weeks), and 6 months post-treatment (36 weeks)
Percentages of the Top 3 Major Phonological Deviations of HAPP-3 Addressed in Intervention
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-treatment), post-treatment (12 weeks), 1 month post-treatment (16 weeks), and 6 months post-treatment (36 weeks)
Pre- and Post-Intervention Percentage of Words and Vowels Correctly Identified by Naïve Listeners in Perceptual Ratings of Vocal Tract Development Lab (VTLab) Stimuli
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-treatment), post-treatment (12 weeks), 1 month post-treatment (16 weeks), and 6 months post-treatment (36 weeks)
Pre- and Post-Intervention Vowel Formant Frequencies F1 and F2 for /ɑ/ and /æ/ in Recorded Productions of VTLab Stimuli
Timeframe: Baseline (pre-treatment), post-treatment (12 weeks)