CompletedNot Applicable

Recasting or Book Reading by Parents or Clinicians

United States137 participantsStarted 2021-09-28

Plain-language summary

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affects approximately seven percent of the population and is characterized by grammatical deficits that cascade into lifelong academic challenges and under-employment. Current treatments for DLD produce good outcomes under ideal, high intensity conditions or when parents have been trained to deliver therapy using intense coaching methods; however, current publicly funded service delivery systems and private-pay reimbursement models do not support treatment being delivered in this ideal fashion for children older than three. This project will examine alternative methods of delivering treatment that may be more feasible under typical conditions and will identify implementation barriers, with the goal of improving long-term outcomes for children with DLD. We hypothesize that feasibility and palatability will influence dose, which will in turn affect the overall language outcomes.

Who can participate

Age range

4 Years – 9 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Child with DLD * Age: 4-9 years old * Primarily English speaking: as documented by 20% or less exposure to another language, per parent report on the MAPLE * Diagnosed with DLD as documented by standard score below 85 on the Diagnostic Evaluation of Language Variation - Norm Referenced (DELV-NR) composite, a dialect neutral assessment (Seymour, Roeper, de Villiers, \& De Villiers, 2005). * Nonverbal Intelligence Quotient (IQ) within typical range as documented by a t-score at or above 35 on the Developmental Abilities Scale (DAS), matrices similarities subscale, (Elliott, 2007). * Hearing within the typical range: Pass screening at 25 dB for 1, 2, 4 kHz; OR scores within the typical range via SoundScouts hearing screening app; OR clear hearing assessment from an audiologist, otolaryngologist, medical doctor, or other professional. * No diagnosis of Autism: Cutoff score of 15 on the Social Communication Questionnaire, (Rutter, Bailey, \& Lord, 2003) * No diagnosis of significant sensory-motor concerns or significant psychiatric disorders per parent report * Able to benefit from treatment: * Score below 60% correct on experimenter developed elicited production probes of passives and object relative clauses * Producing simple transitive sentences (SVO) and mean length of utterance (MLU) of 2.5 on 100 utterance language sample Caregiver * Serves as the primary caregiver for an eligible child (may include grandparents, etc.) * Basic literacy skills per…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

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.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Accuracy on Elicited Production Probes

Timeframe: 2 week prior to the start of therapy; 2 week post therapy

Change in Comprehension probes (Proportion Looking)

Timeframe: 2 week prior to the start of therapy, 2 week post therapy

Estimated Dose Delivered

Timeframe: During 10 week treatment period

Semi-structured interviews

Timeframe: within 2 weeks post therapy ( ~12- 14 week mark in study timeline)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05099328

SponsorUniversity of Delaware

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-04-13

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Developmental Language Disorder and Language Impairment trials