Exploring word learning in deaf children using eye-tracking and behavior
Word Learning in Deaf Children Using Eye-tracking and Behavioral Measures
This study is testing how deaf children learn new words in American Sign Language by looking at how they use visual and language clues to choose between familiar and new objects.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Months to 60 Months |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Boston University Charles River Campus Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Trial ID | NCT05993832 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates how deaf children learn words in American Sign Language (ASL) by examining the concept of mutual exclusivity, which is the assumption that a word refers to only one category of objects. The research will involve 40 deaf children aged 24-60 months, who will participate in structured tasks where they must choose between familiar and novel objects based on cues provided by an experimenter. The study aims to understand how these children prioritize linguistic and visual cues when learning new words, particularly in the context of their exposure to spoken language. Participants will be grouped based on their language exposure, allowing for a nuanced analysis of word learning in monolingual ASL users versus bimodal bilinguals.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are deaf children aged 24-60 months who communicate using American Sign Language.
Not a fit: Children who have not been exposed to American Sign Language will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of language acquisition in deaf children, potentially leading to improved educational strategies and resources.
How similar studies have performed: While mutual exclusivity has been studied in hearing children, this approach in deaf children acquiring ASL is novel and has not been robustly tested before.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Deaf children ages 18-60 months * born severely to profoundly deaf * have either deaf or hearing parents * communicate using American Sign Language * have normal to corrected normal vision Exclusion Criteria: * Deaf children who have not been exposed to American Sign Language
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston University — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Amy Lieberman, PhD — Boston University
- Study coordinator: Amy Lieberman, PhD
- Email: alieber@bu.edu
- Phone: 617-353-3377
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.