AAC intervention for toddlers with intellectual disabilities delivered via telehealth

Early Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Intervention Delivered Via Hybrid Telehealth

This study is testing a new way to help toddlers with intellectual disabilities communicate better through a program delivered online, while also getting feedback from families and speech experts.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Ages: 24 Months and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Portland, Oregon)
• Trial ID: NCT05743439 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study aims to develop and pilot test an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention for toddlers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. It will first gather insights from caregivers and speech-language pathologists to understand their preferences for service delivery and adherence strategies. Following this, the researchers will implement a series of in-person intervention sessions to evaluate the effectiveness of the AAC strategies on caregiver usage and children's communication. The findings will inform the adaptation of the intervention for hybrid delivery models.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include caregivers of children aged 24-36 months with confirmed IDD and speech-language pathologists with experience in AAC.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a diagnosis of IDD or are outside the specified age range may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly enhance communication skills in toddlers with IDD, benefiting both the children and their caregivers.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using AAC interventions for similar populations, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

1. Speech-Language Pathologists:

   1. age \> 18 years
   2. full or part-time employment providing language intervention to children 24 - 36 months with IDD
   3. has at least 1 child on their caseload who uses AAC
   4. has 2 or more years of experience providing AAC to children with IDD
   5. able to speak, understand, and read English.
2. Caregivers:

   1. age \> 18 years
   2. parent, primary caregiver, or legal guardian of a child age 24 - 36 months with IDD
   3. has at least 6 months of experience receiving early intervention, and
   4. able to speak, understand, and read English.
3. Children:

   1. age 24 - 36 months
   2. diagnosis of IDD confirmed by caregiver or medical record
   3. severe developmental delay, defined as a score of \> 2 standard deviations below the mean on the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) Early Learning Composite
   4. severe expressive language impairment, defined as a score of \< 12 months on the Expressive Language Subscale of the MSEL and expressive vocabulary and \< 10 words (signs, or symbols) per caregiver report on the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories Words and Gestures (MCDI-WG)
   5. receptive vocabulary of at least 50 words, per caregiver report on MCDI-WG
   6. use of intentional communication behaviors, defined as a score of \> 7 on the Communication Complexity Scale
   7. sufficient motor skills to sit upright with support, interact with toys provided during the assessment, and access the AAC system
   8. hearing within normal limits, defined as 0 to 25 dbHL in at least one ear
   9. vision within normal limits, defined as 20/80 visual acuity or better in at least one eye, and
   10. exposure to English in the home or community.
   11. Children with uncontrolled seizure disorders will be excluded.

Where this trial is running

Portland, Oregon

• Oregon Health and Science University — Portland, Oregon, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Emily D. Quinn, Ph.D. — Oregon Health and Science University
• Study coordinator: Emily D. Quinn, Ph.D.

Conditions Intellectual Disability; Speech and Language Disorder