Improving Outcomes Using Technology for Children Who Are DHH

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Hearing Loss; Language Development; Social Behavior
• Interventions: Behavioral: augmentative and alternative communication technology; Behavioral: Usual Care

• Registration Number: NCT02998164
• Lead Sponsor: Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the efficacy of using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology for enhancing language development in children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Half of the participants will receive AAC technology with their speech and language therapy and half will continue with their usual care models.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-10
• Study First Submitted: 2016-11-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-12-15
• Study First Posted: 2016-12-20
• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-11
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-12
• Primary Completion: 2025-09
• Study Completion: 2025-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 154

Inclusion Criteria

• documented permanent bilateral hearing loss with severity levels clinically defined in any range (mild to profound);
• identified with a language gap;
• currently receiving speech-language therapy.

Exclusion Criteria

• primary language other than English
• significant motor impairments
• nonverbal IQ <60
• children with severe communication disorders (i.e. autism spectrum disorders).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Technology-assisted language intervention	augmentative and alternative communication technology	This intervention will incorporate augmentative and alternative communication software delivered on iPads into speech-language therapy
usual care	Usual Care	This group will be usual care children are already receiving.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Discourse	Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.	Child's mean turn length in words collected from language samples. Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.
Syntax	Change between baseline and 24 weeks	Evaluated using the mean length of utterance in morphemes collected from language samples. Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.
semantics	Change between baseline and 24 weeks	Variety and total number of vocabulary words used collected from language samples.Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Language standard scores (receptive and expressive)	Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.	Receptive language (what a child understands) and expressive language (what a child says) as measured by standardized language assessment.
Social functioning	Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.	Social functioning as measured by parent-reported assessments or scales

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Children's Hospital of Colorado; 🇺🇸 Aurora, Colorado, United States

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States