Examining language treatment for bilingual children with language disorders
Emergent Bilinguals: the Relationship Between Child Language Proficiency and Language of Treatment on the Outcomes Children with Developmental Language Disorder
This study tests whether using a mix of Spanish and English in therapy helps bilingual children with language disorders learn better than using just one language at a time.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 4 Years to 6 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Houston Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Houston, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT06866223 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This project investigates how language proficiency affects the choice of intervention language for emergent Spanish-English bilingual children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). It compares monolingual interventions in either Spanish or English with interleaved Spanish-English interventions to improve language outcomes. The study aims to provide guidance for speech-language pathologists by aligning treatment approaches with children's language proficiency levels. By utilizing evidence-based recast therapy, the research seeks to enhance long-term academic achievement for bilingual children facing language learning challenges.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are emergent bilingual children aged 4 to 6 who exhibit language learning difficulties and have a history of receiving speech services.
Not a fit: Patients who are not emergent bilingual or do not have Developmental Language Disorder may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved language outcomes and academic success for bilingual children with language disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While there is limited guidance for bilingual interventions, previous studies have shown promise in using tailored approaches for bilingual children with language impairments.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. parent concerns and/or a history of receiving services in the public schools 2. age-specific cutoffs for the morphosyntax subtests for their best language (English or Spanish) on the Bilingual English Spanish Assessment. The cut-off score for best language for 4-year-olds is 84, for 5-year-olds is 85, and for 6-year-olds is 81. Using the best-language approach, these scores have a sensitivity over 90% and specificity over 80% for children between 4;0 and 6;11 years of age , which is considered acceptable for studies of diagnostic accuracy. 3. nonverbal IQ, as measured by the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test-2, matrices subtest, will be at or above a standard score of 70. 4. pass a hearing screening test 5. participants must be emergent bilingual, that is children must be producing at least simple sentences in spontaneous speech in either Spanish or English and be exposed to both langauges 6. participants must be able to benefit from treatment for both conditional adverbial clauses and complement clauses, as evidenced by accuracy below 40% on 10-item elicited production probes in both languages Exclusion Criteria: 1\) children with significant sensory-motor concerns or psychiatric disorders per parent report will not be enrolled.
Where this trial is running
Houston, Texas
- University of Houston — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.