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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT02998164

Improving Outcomes Using Technology for Children Who Are DHH

This study evaluates the efficacy of using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology for enhancing language development in children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Half of the participants will receive AAC technology with their speech and language therapy and half will continue with their usual care models.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Hearing Loss Behavior Ear Diseases Hearing Disorders Language Development Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sensation Disorders Signs and Symptoms Social Behavior

Age range

3 year–10 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Children's Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, United States

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • documented permanent bilateral hearing loss with severity levels clinically defined in any range (mild to profound);
  • identified with a language gap;
  • currently receiving speech-language therapy.

Exclusion criteria

  • primary language other than English
  • significant motor impairments
  • nonverbal IQ <60
  • children with severe communication disorders (i.e. autism spectrum disorders).

Treatment and study plan

augmentative and alternative communication technology

Behavioral

Usual Care

Behavioral

No change to the therapy care received

Primary outcomes

  1. Syntax

    Time frame: Change between baseline and 24 weeks

    Evaluated using the mean length of utterance in morphemes collected from language samples. Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.

  2. semantics

    Time frame: Change between baseline and 24 weeks

    Variety and total number of vocabulary words used collected from language samples.Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.

  3. Discourse

    Time frame: Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.

    Child's mean turn length in words collected from language samples. Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Language standard scores (receptive and expressive)

    Time frame: Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.

    Receptive language (what a child understands) and expressive language (what a child says) as measured by standardized language assessment.

  2. Social functioning

    Time frame: Assessing change between baseline and 24 weeks.

    Social functioning as measured by parent-reported assessments or scales

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Other

Collaborators

  • Children's Hospital Colorado

Registry information

Official study title

Improving Outcomes Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Children Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 20, 2016
Registry last updated
Dec 23, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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