Sentence shaping program for 5th–8th grade deaf and hard of hearing students
Official title: Sentence Shaping: Written Language Intervention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Middle Schoolers
Run by Vanderbilt University · NCT06860022 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will try using shape coding visual supports to help 5th–8th grade children who are deaf or hard of hearing and use spoken English and ASL write sentences more accurately.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 9 Years to 15 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Vanderbilt University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nashville, Tennessee) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 28, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2026 |
| Study ends | December 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06860022 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are 5th–8th graders with bilateral hearing loss who use spoken English and ASL, can read the targeted grammatical structures, and already write sentences but show errors in word order or grammar.
✕Probably not a fit
Children with a diagnosis of dyslexia, uncorrected vision impairment, or severe motor impairments that prevent completing tasks are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The investigators will adapt shape coding—a system of visual symbols for grammatical roles—to support written sentence construction for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. Participants are students in grades five through eight with bilateral hearing loss who use both spoken English and American Sign Language and who already write sentences but make word order or grammar errors. Children with dyslexia, uncorrected vision loss, or severe motor impairment are excluded. The team will deliver the shape coding intervention and measure how efficiently participants learn to produce correct written sentences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help deaf and hard of hearing students produce grammatically correct written sentences more quickly, supporting improved literacy and academic outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Shape coding has been effective for teaching sentence structure in spoken English and has recently been applied successfully to sentence structure in ASL, but its use for written sentence construction in this population is a newer step.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Children in grades five through eight * deaf or hard of hearing * use spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL) * bilateral hearing loss * the ability to read and understand the grammatical structures of interest * already be writing sentences, but demonstrate errors in word order and/or grammar. Exclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of dyslexia * uncorrected vision impairment (i.e., identified vision loss without use of corrective lenses that interferes with eligibility evaluation tasks) * evidence of severe motor impairment (i.e., insufficient motor skills to complete eligibility evaluation tasks independently).
Where it's running
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Adriana M Valtierra, M.S.
- Email: adriana.m.valtierra@vanderbilt.edu
- Phone: 219-614-5980
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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.