The Effects of Caregiver Training on DTTC Treatment Outcomes in CAS
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the impact of direct vs. indirect caregiver training on treatment outcomes following a period of Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) intervention combined with home practice in childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). Forty children with CAS, between the ages of 2;5 and 7;11 years of age, will be recruited for this study. All children will receive DTTC treatment at the frequency of standard care (2x/week) in a university clinic over and 8-week period. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the Direct Training Group; the Indirect Training Group. All caregivers will complete an educational module about CAS, will observe all sessions, and will engage in home practice with their children. Caregivers in the Direct Group will receive coaching in the use of DTTC with their child during a portion of each treatment session to support home practice, whereas those in the Indirect Group will not receive detailed guidance for home practice. Caregivers in both groups will practice at home with their children during the treatment phase (3x/week). Following the treatment phase, home practice will continue at a higher frequency (6x/week) during a 4-week follow-up phase. Treatment outcomes will be compared between groups.
Conditions:
🦠 Childhood Apraxia of Speech
🗓️ Study Start (Actual) 19 July 2023
🗓️ Primary Completion (Estimated) 30 August 2025
✅ Study Completion (Estimated) 31 December 2025
👥 Enrollment (Estimated) 40
🔬 Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
📊 Phase NA
Locations:
📍 Hempstead, New York, United States
📍 New York, New York, United States

📋 Eligibility Criteria

Description

  • Child Eligibility
  • Inclusion Criteria
  • 1. 2;6-7;11 years of age at the start of treatment
  • 2. English as the primary and preferred language
  • 3. Primary speech diagnosis of CAS based on auditory-perceptual, expert diagnosis and/or Dynamic Evaluation of Motor Speech Skills (DEMSS) score classification of "significant evidence of CAS" with score \<323
  • Exclusion Criteria
  • 1. Concomitant disorders including autism spectrum disorder, global development delay, or intellectual disability, Down syndrome, or other genetic condition (diagnosis of Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is allowable if the child can attend in sessions with medication and/or strategies)
  • 2. Primary diagnosis of dysarthria or other speech sound disorder (e.g., phonological impairment).
  • 3. Oral structural anomalies
  • 4. Hearing impairment
  • 5. Uncorrected visual impairment
  • 6. Receiving speech treatment elsewhere during the period of the study. Language or Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) treatment is permitted.
  • 7. Receptive Language Index standard score less than 70 on the Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Test - 4th Edition (REEL-4), Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - Preschool 3rd Edition (CELF-P3), or Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals - 5th Edition (CELF-5), as appropriate for participant's age.
  • 8. Cognitive standard score less than 70 on the Developmental Assessment of Young Children (DAYC) - ages 2;0 - 5;11, Nonverbal Index of Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales - 2nd Edition - age 6;0 - 7;11
Ages Eligible for Study: 24 Months to 95 Months (CHILD)
Sexes Eligible for Study: ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

🗓️ Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

  • First Submitted 14 June 2023
  • First Submitted that Met QC Criteria 14 June 2023
  • First Posted 23 June 2023

Study Record Updates

  • Last Update Submitted that Met QC Criteria 22 May 2024
  • Last Update Posted 24 May 2024
  • Last Verified May 2024