Phenotypic Specific Communication Intervention for Children With Down Syndrome (Merck)
Language Impairment, Down Syndrome
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Language Impairment focused on measuring Down syndrome, Language intervention, Communication intervention
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of DS from medical records.
- Mental age (MA) of 18 months as measured on the Visual Reception subtest of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning.
- Expressive vocabulary of fewer than 20 words at measured on a naturalistic language sample.
- Age between 30 and 54 months
- English or Spanish as the primary language at home.
- Parents who are willing to participate in parent training.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Major medical conditions other than DS, specifically (a) developmental disorders (e.g. autism); (b) sensory disabilities (e.g. blindness/deafness), and (c) motor disabilities not related to DS, (e.g. cerebral palsy)
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Sites / Locations
- University of California, Los Angeles Center for Autism Research and Treatment
- Vanderbilt University Kennedy Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
Jasper-EMT with words and AAC
Community treatment as usual
Jasper-EMT with words and AAC A therapist plus parent implemented social communication intervention which include use of the iPad for a mode of communication. A total of 6 hour long workshops with the parent and 42 hour long intervention sessions with the child occur; half include the parent as therapist and occur in the home. The treatment lasts approximately 4 months.
Children access educational and speech-language interventions available to them through schools and community resources.