RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07048392

Retrieval-Based Word Learning in Developmental Language Disorder During Book Reading II

Sponsor

Purdue University

Enrollment

32 participants

Start Date

Mar 1, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Language Development Developmental Language Disorder and Language Impairment Specific Language Impairment

Summary

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 well-being. 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 build on the investigators' previous work to determine whether, as has been found thus far, special benefits accrue when these children must frequently recall newly introduced words during the course of learning. In this study, the investigators seek to replicate the advantage that repeated retrieval holds over simple exposure to the words appearing in the context of a story book by increasing the degree to which the words are integrated into the story line.

Eligibility

Min Age: 48 MonthsMax Age: 71 Months

Inclusion Criteria6

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
not within Autistic range on Autism screening test
native English speaker (can be bilingual)

Exclusion Criteria5

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
non-native English speaker

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALRetrieval-based word learning: Repeated Spaced Retrieval condition

Each child will learn 8 novel nouns referring to unfamiliar plants and animals ("nepp") and a related "meaning" ("a nepp likes rain") in the context of a story book. Four of the nouns will be will be learned using repeated spaced retrieval. In this condition, they will initially hear the information and be asked to retrieve it. Thereafter, they will be asked to retrieve it after hearing 3 intervening words. After each retrieval attempt, they will hear the target information again. This procedure will occur on two consecutive days.

BEHAVIORALRetrieval-based word learning: Repeated Study condition

Each child will learn 8 novel nouns referring to unfamiliar plants and animals ("nepp") and a related "meaning" ("a nepp likes rain") in the context of a story book. Four of the nouns will be will be learned using repeated study trials only (with no retrieval practice). In this condition, they will simply hear the information (word \& meaning) as part of the story. This procedure will occur on two consecutive days.