Social communication intervention for children with Down syndrome V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating an early social communication intervention for young children with Down syndrome (ASCEND): a feasibility study
IRAS ID
252332
Contact name
Vesna Stojanovik
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Down syndrome (DS) is a common genetic condition which affects approximately 1 in every 700 babies. It is the most common cause of learning disability. Children with DS have particular difficulties with speech and language. This makes it challenging for them to participate fully in life, access health care services and educational opportunities. Improving the language skills of young children with DS is vital for their future social and emotional well-being and behaviour, and consequently contribution to society. As DS is detected before or at birth, we can provide support from early on. There are currently no standard interventions for improving the language skills of children with DS under the age of 24 months. Evidence also suggests that early parent-based interventions may be effective in improving language outcomes. We have been working on developing a possible early intervention for infants with DS. Our preliminary work shows that an intervention focusing on early social communication skills can lead to better language in children with DS.
Parents who participated in our preliminary study reported an overwhelmingly positive effect of the intervention on their children's language and communication. Our aim is to carry out a feasibility study which will inform a future pilot/full trial to test whether the intervention is effective in improving language skills before children with DS start school. The feasibility study will establish whether we could recruit enough children and parents through NHS Trusts for a full sized trial, how acceptable a parent-led intervention would be for parents and speech and language therapists, and it will provide us with information on how we may run a full trial.REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0572
Date of REC Opinion
5 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion