RCT of parent-based intervention for language delayed 2 to 3 year olds
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of parent-based models of speech and language therapy intervention for 2 to 3 year old children with primary language delay in areas of social disadvantage.
IRAS ID
222727
Contact name
Deborah Gibbard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Solent NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Early treatment for language problems is important to help prevent low educational achievement and poorer outcomes later in life. Early intervention and parental involvement in treatment has proven beneficial for pre-school children experiencing language development difficulties. In areas where there is social disadvantage, however, engagement with treatment can be a challenge. We have developed a new, joint-working, service in Portsmouth, UK, Enhanced Parent Based Intervention (EPBI), which has helped families to engage. A pilot project showed Enhanced intervention is viable in a community setting. This project will compare the Enhanced service with the existing one in areas of social disadvantage and will look at the effects on parental skills, attitude, confidence and engagement with treatment, in addition to outcomes for children. Parents’ views and feedback have shaped this proposal from the outset. For the standard care and intervention groups, we will measure child language abilities, parent language, the home communication environment and parent’s knowledge, skills and confidence in managing the intervention. These will be measured at the beginning of the intervention, at the end of the intervention period (short-term change) and 6 months post-intervention (longer-term change). If EPBI groups prove beneficial then their implementation will be valuable for this population given the long lasting effects of children's language delay on education, personality, employment and wider society. More importantly, this population will benefit from a reduction in health and social inequalities that impact on the individual, family and wider communities, ensuring children have the best possible start in life.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0180
Date of REC Opinion
25 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion