Improving grammar skills in children with language disorders
Official title: Treating Complex Sentences in Children With DLD
Run by Ohio University · NCT06911138 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing two different ways to help children aged 8 to 11 with language disorders improve their grammar skills to see which method works better.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 8 Years to 11 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Ohio University Academic / other |
| Locations | 4 sites (Tucson, Arizona and 3 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 1, 2024 |
| Main results expected | August 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | October 15, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 4, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06911138 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are school-age children aged 8-11 with diagnosed developmental language disorder and specific language impairments.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, emotional or behavioral disorders, or those who have received prior treatment for complex syntax may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project aims to compare the effectiveness of two innovative treatments designed to enhance complex grammar knowledge in school-age children (ages 8-11) with developmental language disorder (DLD). One treatment employs an implicit approach, where children listen to target sentences multiple times during training, while the other uses a conventional explicit method that teaches grammar rules directly. The study will conduct two randomized clinical trials focusing on different syntactic structures to evaluate the outcomes of both treatment methods. By controlling key treatment aspects, the researchers hope to determine which approach yields better results in improving grammar skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly enhance the grammar skills of children with developmental language disorders, leading to improved communication abilities.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been few treatment studies for later-developing language skills, this approach is novel and aims to address limitations seen in previous research.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Language impairment: standard score of 34 or lower on the Test of Language and Learning Skills * Nonverbal IQ: nonverbal quotient of 77 or higher * Normal range hearing * Normal or corrected vision * Native English speaker * Sentence comprehension screening/sentence chunking screening 50% or lower Exclusion Criteria: * Neurodevelopmental disorder * Emotional/behavioral disorder * Frank neurological disorder * Treatment for complex syntax from outside clinician
Where it's running
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio, United States Recruiting -
Utah State University
Logan, Utah, United States Recruiting -
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jeanette Eckert
- Email: j.eckert@ohio.edu
- Phone: 740-593-0113
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.