Measuring Aided Language Development
University of Central Florida
Summary
The focus of the current study is to systematically investigate the psychometric properties of a range of aided language measures, which are based on the Graphic Symbol Utterance and Sentence Development Framework (Binger \& Kent-Walsh).
Description
Our central hypotheses are: (1) psychometrically sound measures can be established to capture growth within and across different dimensions of language acquisition, and (2) some elicitation contexts will be better than others at capturing aided language growth. Specific Aim 1 identifies valid measures to characterize aided language progress. Aim 1A uses existing data to document the psychometric properties of a range of aided language measures for preschoolers at the early stages of aided communication acquisition who have received 4 months of aided language intervention. Aim 1B analyzes langu…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 3–5 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical Identification of Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy + Significant Speech Impairment * Must Speak English as a Primary Language * Must Be Able to Express At Least 25 Words (using any communication mode) * Must Be Able to Accurately Select Picture Symbols on iPad Communication App with at Least 50% Accuracy * Vision and Hearing within Functional Limits or Corrected to be within Functional Limits for Study Activities Exclusion Criteria: * Clinical Diagnosis of Autism or Social Communication Disorder * Primary Language Spoken is A Language Other than English
Interventions
- BehavioralAAC Generative Language Intervention
Aided AAC Language Input/Output Intervention
Location
- University of Central Florida - Innovative CenterOrlando, Florida