Research Study:
A Parent-Implemented Program that Teaches Speech Sounds
to Children with Down Syndrome
Who can participate?
Children with Down syndrome and their parent(s). The children with Down syndrome must be old enough to be able to work in a structured way, using a workbook, on their speech. They must have difficulty pronouncing some speech sounds. They must be able to imitate speech sounds and be willing to practice saying sounds on their own. The parent(s) must have the time to teach their child speech for 10 minutes every day at home.
What will you be asked to do?
Parents will be trained to teach speech to their children using a manual that the researchers have developed. The parents will work through the manual with their child, teaching one sound at a time. The manual may take 6 to 8 months or even more to complete. In order to determine whether the therapy works, the children’s speech will be tested several times. The assessment will take about 1 hour each time and will be done 4-5 times: once or twice before the therapy starts, once 4 months after the therapy starts, once as soon as the workbook is finished and once 2 months after the workbook is finished. Some children will be assigned to an immediate treatment group. These children can start the program right after testing. A second group will be assigned to a delay treatment group. These children will start the program 4 months after the first assessment session. Comparing progress in these two groups is important in order to determine whether the program is actually helping speech progress.
If you are interested in hearing more about this study or you would like to have your child participate, please contact:
Elizabeth Kay-Raining Bird, Ph.D.
Professor, Dalhousie University
Phone: 902-494-5152
e-mail: rainbird@dal.ca
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