Retrieval-based Word Learning in Developmental Language Disorder: Adaptive Retrieval Schedule
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age48-71
SponsorPurdue University
About this trial
Children with developmental language disorder (DLD; also referred to as specific language impairment) experience a significant deficit in language ability that is longstanding and harmful to the children's academic, social, and eventual economic wellbeing. Word learning is one of the principal weaknesses in these children. This project focuses on the word learning abilities of four- and five-year-old children with DLD. The goal of the project is to determine whether special benefits accrue when these children must frequently recall newly introduced words during the course of learning. In the current study, the investigators compare a "standard" repeated spaced retrieval schedule, with fixed spacing between hearing a word and attempting to retrieve it, to an "adaptive" repeated spaced retrieval schedule in which opportunities to retrieve a given word are tailored to the individual child's current knowledge state. The goal of the study is to determine whether the adaptive schedule can increase children's absolute levels of learning while maintaining the advantages of repeated spaced retrieval.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
a significant deficit in language ability (language test score below cutoff for best sensitivity/specificity) or documented age-appropriate language ability.
normal hearing.
no evidence of neurological damage or disease.
scores on tests of nonverbal intelligence above the intellectual disability range
Disqualifiers
failed hearing screening
known neurological damage or disease
scores on tests of nonverbal intelligence below the intellectual disability range (standard score less than 75)
autism spectrum disorder
Trial design
Design model
Factorial
Treatments tested in this trial
Retrieval-based word learning: Standard retrieval practice schedule
BehavioralNovel nouns and their meanings are practiced on 2 consecutive days. At the beginning of each learning session, a retrieval trial will immediately follow hearing the word and what it likes (a study trial). In the standard condition, the remaining retrieval trials for each word will be spaced - occurring only after 3 other words have intervened. This practice schedule is repeated the next day (Day 2).
Retrieval-based word learning: Adaptive retrieval practice schedule
BehavioralNovel nouns and their meanings are practiced on 2 consecutive days. At the beginning of each learning session, a retrieval trial will immediately follow hearing the word and what it likes (a study trial). For the remainder of the session, there will be spaced retrieval trials for each word - occurring after 3 words have intervened. In the Adaptive condition, children will have additional retrieval opportunities throughout. These will be provided whenever the child does not remember the word form, whether it is an immediate (initial) or space retrieval trial. This practice schedule is repeated the next day (Day 2).
Treatment groups
32 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Children with Developmental Language DisorderExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: Children With Typical Language DevelopmentExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Word Form Recall Accuracy (Number of Words Correctly Recalled) on Adaptive and Standard Retrieval Schedules at 5 Mins
5 minutes after second learning session, child is asked to recall and say the word associated with each novel referent learned under one of two conditions: one in which retrieval trials occurred on an adaptive schedule and one in which retrieval trials occurred on the standard schedule.
Time frame
5 minutes after end of learning period2
Word Form Recall Accuracy (Number of Words Correctly Recalled) on Adaptive and Standard Retrieval Schedules at 1 week
1 week after second learning session, child is asked to recall and say the word associated with each novel referent learned under one of two conditions: one in which retrieval trials occurred on adaptive schedule and one in which retrieval trials occurred on the standard schedule.
Time frame
1 week after end of learning period3
Word Meaning Recall Accuracy (Number of Semantic Associations Correctly Recalled) on Adaptive and Standard Retrieval Schedules at 5 Mins
5 minutes after second learning session, child is asked to recall and say the semantic information associated with each novel referent learned under one of two conditions: one in which retrieval trials occurred on an adaptive schedule and one in which retrieval trials occurred on the standard schedule.
Time frame
5 minutes after end of learning period4
Word Meaning Recall Accuracy (Number of Semantic Associations Correctly Recalled) on Adaptive and Standard Retrieval Schedules at 1 week
1 week after second learning session, child is asked to recall and say the semantic information associated with each novel referent learned under one of two conditions: one in which retrieval trials occurred on an adaptive schedule and one in which retrieval trials occurred on the standard schedule.
Time frame
1 week after end of learning periodSecondary outcomes
1
Standard Score on Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, 5th Edition
The Peabody Picture Vocabulary is an individually administered, norm-reference test that assesses receptive vocabulary for children and adults ages 2 years 6 months to 90 years and older. Standard scores are derived from number correct. Standard scores between 85 and 115 (1 SD above and below the mean of 100) are interpreted as reflecting receptive vocabulary levels expected for age.
Time frame
at enrollment2
Years of Maternal Education
Primary care-giver provides information regarding highest academic degree attained, converted to years of education
Time frame
at enrollmentSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Purdue University
Lead sponsor
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov