Exercise program for children with communication impairments
Exercise as Treatment in Children With Communication Impairments
This study tests if an exercise program can help children with communication difficulties improve their fitness and motor skills better than a restful play program.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 5 Years to 9 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Marquette University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) |
| Trial ID | NCT06340893 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to assess the fitness levels and motor abilities of children with developmental language disorder (DLD) and typically developing peers. It will involve communication, fine/gross motor, and fitness testing, followed by random assignment to either an exercise program or a restful play program for six weeks. The exercise program will focus on cardiovascular fitness and agility, while the restful play program will serve as a control. The study seeks to determine if physical exercise can enhance learning and improve motor skills more effectively than restful play.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 5 to 9 years with a diagnosis of developmental language disorder or typically developing children.
Not a fit: Patients with disorders significantly affecting social interactions, such as autism, or those with vision impairments may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved cognitive and motor skills in children with developmental language disorder.
How similar studies have performed: While the approach of integrating exercise with cognitive and motor skill development is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in enhancing outcomes for children with developmental disorders.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Children with a diagnosis of developmental language disorder (DLD) or typically developing controls will be included. All children will meet following inclusion criteria: * (1) between 5 and 9 years old at enrollment * (2) from homes where the primary language spoken is English * (3) normal hearing based on parent report and audiometric screening * (4) typical nonverbal cognition as determined by a T-score within 1.5 standard deviations of the mean on nonverbal subtests of the Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales Exclusion Criteria: Exclusionary Criteria are: * (1) diagnosis of disorder that significantly affects social interactions (e.g., autism), as per referral diagnosis or which is identified during initial screening or assessment phase * (2) vision impairments that prevent participation in our experimental protocol * (3) inability for any reason to participate in assessment and/or treatment protocols
Where this trial is running
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Marquette U — Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel, PhD — Marquette University
- Study coordinator: Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel, PhD
- Email: jenya.iuzzini-seigel@marquette.edu
- Phone: 414-288-1529
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.