Shared Interactive Book Reading in Preschool Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Effects on Language Development and Reading Habits

The goal of this observational retrospective study is to explore the effects of a parent-based book reading intervention on children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The project consisted of interactive lessons for parents and shared reading experiences. It took place between May 2021 and June 2022 in Rome and at the time children were receiving neuropsychomotor and speech therapy sessions based on the developmental profile.

The investigators'primary goal is to investigate lexical quotients of children who participated in the project to explore whether it had an impact on their language development. The secondary goal is to assess shared reading habits.

For both outcome measures, researchers will compare the group who partecipated in the study with a cohort of children with the same characteristics who also attended Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi for rehabilitation purposes.

Patients and their family will not be asked for any further engagement because all data will be taken from medical records.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Neurodevelopmental Disorders Autism Spectrum Disorder Autistic Disorder Behavior Child Development Disorders, Pervasive Communication Communication Disorders Intellectual Disabilities Intellectual Disability Language Disorders Language Disorders in Children Literacy Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

1 year–6 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus

Rome, Italy

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

for the study group:

age between 1 and 6 years old
having attended at least 2 out of 5 parent training meetings and 2 out of 9 reading aloud sessions
at least one caregiver with a good command of the Italian language,
having given written consent to participate

Exclusion criteria

for both groups:

cerebral palsy or severe sensory disorder (deafness, blindness)
limited command of the italian language
lack of informed consent

Treatment and study plan

Shared book reading intervention

Other

The study group participated in a parent training program focusing on shared interactive reading practices and attended nine read-aloud meetings with their children under the supervision of a trained librarian.

Other names: Parent-based book reading intervention

Primary outcomes

Lexical quotients (receptive and expressive)

Time frame: February 2025 - August 2025

We will analyze receptive and expressive lexical quotient of both study and comparison group.

Secondary outcomes

Non-standardized shared-reading habits questionnaire

Time frame: February 2025 - August 2025

We will analyze the impact of the project on families' shared reading habits through a custom-built self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire has been delivered at the beginning and at the end of the project.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ETS

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Feb 28, 2025
Registry last updated: Feb 28, 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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Active, Not Recruiting