Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Lexical Gain in Children With Down Syndrome

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Children with Down syndrome (DS) have language development particularities that have negative effects in the communication capacity. By this way, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is indicated to this population. The aim of this study was to verify the AAC impact in the lexical gain of children with DS.

Detailed Description
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Five children with DS, with the same cognitive level, participated in this study. Longitudinal follow-up of twelve months of speech-language therapy with AAC use was undertaken. A lexical evaluation was done at the beginning and the end of this follow-up. Correct responses in the lexical evaluation were increased, but not necessarily in the spoken modality. The comparisons showed significant results in use of substitutions processes, and to no-answers.

Official Title
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Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Lexical Gain in Children With Down Syndrome: Pilot Study

Conditions
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Down Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: speech-language therapy with AAC intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: genetic diagnosis of Down syndrome be at the preoperational period good health conditions expressive language impairment (communication by vocal and gestures, predominantly) Exclusion Criteria: presence of major malformations presence of another genetic syndrome severe neonatal asphyxia, hearing impairment or visual

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 5 Years
Maximum Age: 11 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: SG<br>Study Group: five children with Down syndrome submitted to speech-language intervention with AAC intervention | Behavioral: speech-language therapy with AAC intervention<br>* speech-language intervention in weekly 40-minutes sessions, without the presence of parents or caregivers, and 5 to 10-minutes to parents training and orientation<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Performance on a initial and final lexical assessments, after 12 months of speech-language therapy |  | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Performance on longitudinal follow-up of twelve months of speech-language therapy with AAC use |  | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Down syndrome, communication AIDS for disabled, language development disorders, vocabulary, gestures, language tests, child