Speech therapy for kids with rare genetic conditions and childhood apraxia of speech

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This single-case experimental design study assigns each child to one of two motor speech therapies, DTTC or ReST, based on age and speech abilities. Participants receive baseline probes, a 4-week treatment block with three therapy sessions per week, and follow-up probes at 1, 4, and 8 weeks to track changes in trained speech targets, generalisation to untrained targets, intelligibility, and functional communication. Repeated measures during baseline, treatment, and follow-up assess level, trend, and maintenance of change. The primary goal is to determine whether the chosen therapy improves accuracy for trained targets in children with CAS and a rare genetic condition, with secondary aims exploring untrained targets, overall intelligibility, and everyday communication per parent report.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Children aged between 3 and 16 years, with a confirmed genetic condition and a diagnosis of childhood apraxia of speech; English as the primary language at home; able to participate in speech therapy 3 times per week for 4 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of an acquired brain or movement condition likely to affect speech; currently receiving motor speech therapy in the community; diagnosis of a behavioural condition likely to impact engagement (i.e., unable to participate for 45 minutes, unable to focus attention at the speech therapist's face for a few minutes at a time, unable to say any sounds and/or use gesture, unable to try to copy speech therapist; intolerant to touch (if touch cues are needed for DTTC)

Where it's running

• Murdoch Children's Research Institute
  Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Miya D St John, PhD — Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
• Study coordinator: Miya D St John, PhD
• Email: miya.stjohn@mcri.edu.au
• Phone: +610399366586

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• DTTC-Connect: a new approach to help kids with childhood apraxia of speech communicate in phrases

  A two-month, motor-based therapy called DTTC-Connect is being tested to see if it helps children with childhood apraxia of speech say phrases more clearly.

  Recruiting at 2 sites New York University · Hempstead, New York and 1 other locations · NCT07526246

• Ultrasound Visual Feedback for Young Children with Speech Apraxia

  This pilot study tests whether using real-time ultrasound tongue imaging during therapy helps children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech improve articulation more than usual care.

  Recruiting Santa Catarina Federal University · Florianópolis, Santa Catarina · NCT07087249

• Home brain–computer interface program to help children with severe disabilities take part in daily life

  This program will try home-based brain–computer interface (BCI) systems to help children aged 5–18 with severe physical or communication disabilities reach personalized life participation goals.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University of Calgary · Calgary, Alberta and 1 other locations · NCT07073378

• 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.

  Recruiting University of Central Florida · Orlando, Florida · NCT06512168

• Intensive rehabilitation for speech and language recovery after stroke

  This study is testing whether a two-week intensive speech and language therapy program can help people with speech difficulties after a stroke improve their communication and quality of life.

  Recruiting Karolinska Institutet · Uppsala · NCT04604444

• Enhancing speech rehabilitation for stroke patients using brain stimulation

  This study is testing if combining speech therapy with a gentle brain stimulation technique can help stroke patients with speech difficulties improve their communication skills.

  Recruiting at 2 sites NYU Langone Health · New York, New York and 1 other locations · NCT03452202

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.