Early Communication Intervention for Toddlers with Hearing Loss

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Megan Y. Roberts, PhD, CCC-SLP | The ...

Overseen byMegan Y Roberts, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Northwestern University

Prior Safety Data

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?Improving spoken language outcomes for children with hearing loss has important public health implications. This is a randomized clinical trial of 96 children with hearing loss that examines the effects of a parent-implemented early communication intervention on prelinguistic and spoken language outcomes. The study is open for national recruitment. Parents participate via video call with their child and receive technology to assist with virtual visits.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for toddlers aged 12-18 months with bilateral, congenital hearing loss. They should have no other disabilities like Down syndrome or cerebral palsy, and English must be the primary language spoken at home. One parent must have normal hearing, and the child should already be exposed to some spoken language.

Inclusion Criteria

You are able to hear and understand spoken language from your parents.

Have English as the primary language spoken at home

One of my parents has normal hearing.

+3 more

Participant Groups

The study tests a Parent-Implemented Communication Intervention (PICT) against a control group with no intervention. It aims to improve prelinguistic and spoken language in children with hearing loss through sessions via video call, providing technology for virtual visits.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Placebo Group

Group I: Parent-Implemented Communication Intervention (PICT)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the PICT condition will receive weekly hour long intervention sessions in their home for 6 months. Parents will learn four sets of communication support strategies: (a) visual (e.g., modeling language within the child's line of sight), (b) interactive (e.g., following the child's attentional focus), (c) responsive (e.g., responding to all communicative attempts), and (d) linguistically stimulating (e.g., modeling language targets, expanding child communication).

Group II: No Intervention - Business-as-usual controlPlacebo Group1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the BAU control group will not receive the PICT intervention.