DTTC Frequency for Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Overseen By Julie Case, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Marquette University

Disqualifiers: Autism, Global developmental delay, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 6-12 weeks

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a pediatric motor-based speech sound disorder that requires a specialized approach to intervention (Maas et al., 2014). The extant literature on the treatment of CAS commonly recommends intensive treatment using a motor-based approach, with some of the best evidence supporting the use of Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC; Strand, 2020). To date, a rigorous and systematic comparison of high and low dose frequency has not been undertaken for DTTC, resulting in a lack of evidence to guide decisions about the optimal treatment schedule for this intervention. The current study aims to fill this gap in knowledge by comparing treatment outcomes when dose frequency is varied. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether the number of treatment sessions per week has an effect on intervention outcomes in 60 children with CAS. The main question this research will address is whether whole word accuracy will differ between two groups of children undergoing DTTC treatment when one group of children receives treatment twice a week for 12 weeks and the other group receives treatment 4 times a week for 6 weeks. Community clinicians will administer all treatment sessions.

Research Team

Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel, PhD

Principal Investigator

Marquette University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for children aged between 2 years and 6 months to 7 years and 11 months with a confirmed diagnosis of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). They must speak English primarily, have no severe developmental disorders, uncorrected vision or hearing loss, significant speech treatment from other sources during the study, or cognitive scores below certain thresholds.

Inclusion Criteria

English as the primary language

I am between 2 and 11 years old.

The research team has confirmed that you have CAS based on specific criteria described in certain research studies.

Exclusion Criteria

I have vision problems that glasses or contacts can't fix.

Your score on a specific test for thinking and problem solving is lower than 70.

I have hearing loss.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive DTTC treatment with varying dose frequencies: 4 times per week for 6 weeks or 2 times per week for 12 weeks

6-12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for treatment gains and generalization of speech improvements

12 weeks

1 visit (1 day post-treatment), 1 visit (1 week post-treatment), 1 visit (4 weeks post-treatment), 1 visit (12 weeks post-treatment)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing Treatment

Trial Overview The trial tests how often kids with CAS should get Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) treatment. It compares two groups: one gets DTTC twice a week for 12 weeks; the other four times a week for six weeks. The focus is on whether more frequent sessions improve word accuracy in speech.

Participant Groups

Group I: High Dose Frequency Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group will receive treatment 4x/week for 6 weeks

Group II: Low Dose Frequency Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will receive treatment 2x/week for 12 weeks

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Marquette University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

68

Recruited

202,000+

New York University

Collaborator

Trials

249

Recruited

229,000+

Remarkable Speech and Movement

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

60+

University of Vermont

Collaborator

Trials

283

Recruited

3,747,000+

Hofstra University

Collaborator

Trials

6

Recruited

320+

University of Sydney

Collaborator

Trials

208

Recruited

417,000+