Assessing communication abilities in children with brain injuries

Pragmatic Abilities in Children With Acquired Brain Injury: Assessment and Analysis With the ABaCo Test

Observational IRCCS Eugenio Medea · NCT04280978

This study is testing how well children aged 6 to 11 with brain injuries can communicate and understand others to see if their skills have been affected.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment30 (estimated)
Ages6 Years to 11 Years
SexAll
SponsorIRCCS Eugenio Medea Academic / other
Locations1 site (Bosisio Parini, Lecco)
Trial IDNCT04280978 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study focuses on children aged 6 to 11 who have experienced an acquired brain injury (ABI) at least six months prior. It aims to evaluate their pragmatic communication abilities, neuropsychological skills, and theory of mind using a combination of adapted assessment tools, including the ABaCo test and subtests from the Italian battery 'BVL 4-12'. Data will be collected through individual assessments conducted at the IRCCS Eugenio Medea, with scoring performed by an external trained judge to ensure impartiality. The study also considers the socio-economic status of the families involved.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Italian children aged 6 to 11 who have had an acquired brain injury for at least six months.

Not a fit: Patients with diagnoses of aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, or sensory difficulties will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved assessment tools for children with ABI, enhancing their communication skills and treatment outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While there is limited literature on similar assessments, the study addresses a gap in validated tools for evaluating pragmatic abilities in children with ABI, suggesting a novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* italian
* 6 to 11 years old
* at least 6 months after ABI onset

Exclusion Criteria:

* diagnosis of aphasia, dysarthria, apraxia, and/or sensorial difficulties (visual and hearing)

Where this trial is running

Bosisio Parini, Lecco

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Acquired Brain InjuryPragmatic Communication Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.