Online treatment for improving speech sound disorders in children
Official title: Online Assessment and Enhancement of Auditory Perception for Speech Sound Errors: Online Rotating Delivery of Perception/Production Enhanced Treatment for Rhotics
Run by Montclair State University · NCT06969521 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if an online treatment that focuses on listening skills first or speaking skills first can help children with speech sound disorders improve their speech.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 8 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Montclair State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Montclair, New Jersey) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | July 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 28, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06969521 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are children aged 8 to 17 who speak English as their dominant language and have difficulty producing the /r/ sound.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have a significant cognitive impairment or who do not meet the speech accuracy criteria 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 clinical trial aims to evaluate whether perceptual training can enhance speech perception and production outcomes in children with Residual Speech Sound Disorders (RSSD). Participants will undergo pre-treatment evaluations to assess their speech production accuracy and will be categorized into high or low accuracy groups. They will then be randomly assigned to either a perception-first or production-first treatment approach via telepractice. The study will analyze how the order of intervention affects speech improvement based on initial accuracy levels.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve speech outcomes for children with speech sound disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success with similar perceptual training approaches, indicating potential for effective outcomes.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Must be between 8;0 and 17;11 years of age at the time of enrollment. Must speak English as the dominant language (i.e., must have begun learning English by age 2, per parent report). Must speak a rhotic dialect of English. Must pass a pure-tone hearing screening at 20dB hearing level. Must pass a brief examination of oral structure and function. Must exhibit less than 30% accuracy, based on consensus across 2 trained listeners, on a probe list eliciting rhotics in various phonetic contexts at the word level. Must exhibit no more than 3 sounds other than /r/ in error on the Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation-3 (GFTA-3). Exclusion Criteria: Must not receive a T score more than 1.3 SD below the mean on the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence-2 (WASI-2) Matrix Reasoning Must not receive a scaled score of 7 or higher on the Recalling Sentences and Formulated Sentences subtests of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-5 (CELF-5). Must not have an existing diagnosis of developmental disability or major neurobehavioral syndrome such as cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, or Autism Spectrum Disorder
Where it's running
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Montclair State University
Montclair, New Jersey, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Elaine Hitchcock, PhD — Montclair State University
- Study coordinator: Elaine R. Hitchcock, PhD
- Email: hitchcocke@montclair.edu
- Phone: 973-229-3797
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Help children ages 7–11 say the /s/ sound more clearly
It will try short, online speech lessons to help children ages 7–11 who have trouble saying the /s/ sound.
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Online visual-acoustic biofeedback to correct /s/ (lisp) distortions
This trial will test whether live online visual-acoustic biofeedback helps children aged 8 to 17 who have persistent distortions of the /s/ sound.
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AI-guided home practice for improving speech sound production
This study is testing if using an AI program at home can help children and teens with Speech Sound Disorder improve how they say the 'r' sound compared to regular treatment alone.
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Ultrasound therapy for children with speech sound disorders
This study is testing if using ultrasound to help kids with speech sound disorders, especially those with brain tumors or cleft palates, can improve their speech by showing them how to move their tongues correctly.
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Visual-acoustic biofeedback intervention for children with speech sound disorder
This study tests if a new speech therapy using visual and sound feedback works just as well for kids with speech sound disorder when done in person or online.
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Investigating language development in children with communication challenges
This study is testing new ways to measure language growth in preschoolers with communication challenges, like Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy, to see what helps them learn to talk better.
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.