Teaching methods for improving grammar in children with language disorders

The Effect of Prior Learning on Treatment of Morpheme Errors

NA · University of Arizona · NCT05953077

This study is testing different teaching methods to see which one helps preschool children with language disorders learn grammar better.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment32 (estimated)
Ages4 Years to 6 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Arizona (other)
Locations1 site (Tucson, Arizona)
Trial IDNCT05953077 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This treatment study focuses on preschool children diagnosed with developmental language disorder, aiming to identify effective teaching methods for grammar acquisition. Participants will undergo assessments to evaluate their language skills and receive one-on-one behavioral treatment over six weeks. The study compares two approaches: teaching grammatical forms that children sometimes use versus those they rarely use, to determine which method enhances learning. Children's progress will be monitored throughout the treatment and for six weeks post-treatment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are native English-speaking preschool children aged 4-6 with diagnosed developmental language disorder and specific language test scores indicating morpheme errors.

Not a fit: Patients with other handicapping conditions or those enrolled in outside treatment may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective teaching strategies for children with developmental language disorders, improving their grammar skills.

How similar studies have performed: While similar studies have explored language treatment methods, this specific approach of comparing teaching sequences is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Native English speaking
* Passed a pure-tone hearing screening
* 4-6 years of age
* SPELT-P2 (language) test score of \< 87
* K-ABC-II Nonverbal Scale (cognition) test score of \>75
* Sufficient morpheme errors to serve as treatment and control targets
* Articulations skills sufficient to judge use of language targets
* Able to attend treatment daily

Exclusion Criteria:

* Parent report of other handicapping conditions
* Clinical signs of other disorders
* Enrolled in outside treatment

Where this trial is running

Tucson, Arizona

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Developmental Language Disorder, treatment

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.