Signing Instruction for Language Development

Overseen By Leala Holcomb, PhD in Education

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Disqualifiers: Non-deaf children

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 9 academic months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how a teaching method called Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI) can improve language skills in deaf children. Researchers will monitor eight students from kindergarten to 3rd grade in a school for the deaf to observe language development over time with this method. The trial includes different phases, where some children from each group will begin using SISI while others wait, allowing researchers to track progress in various scenarios. Deaf children in kindergarten to 3rd grade in a specialized school are the best fit for this study. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for children to potentially enhance their language skills through innovative teaching methods.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction is safe for language development in children?

Research has shown that Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI) helps improve language skills for deaf students. While specific data on its safety is limited, it's crucial to recognize that SISI is a teaching method, not a medical treatment. Therefore, it doesn't carry the safety concerns associated with drug trials.

SISI involves teaching sign language, which has been linked to better reading and possibly improved health. This suggests the method is safe, as it focuses on enhancing communication skills without involving physical procedures. Its implementation in schools further supports its safety for children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Signing Instruction for Language Development trial because it explores a new method called Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI) for enhancing language skills in deaf children. Unlike traditional approaches that may rely heavily on lip-reading or hearing aids, SISI focuses directly on using signing to facilitate language acquisition. This method is unique because it integrates strategic interaction and active participation, aiming to create a more engaging learning experience that can be tailored to each child's needs. By closely monitoring progress in small groups, researchers hope to uncover insights into how signing can effectively support language development, potentially offering a more personalized and interactive alternative to existing methods.

What evidence suggests that Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction could be effective for language development in deaf children?

Research has shown that Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI) can help deaf children develop their language skills. In past studies, students who received this type of teaching improved significantly in their language abilities. These improvements included a better understanding and use of sign language, which is crucial for communication in deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. This trial will evaluate SISI across different phases, with children in each phase beginning the instruction at different times. The program uses interactive methods to engage students, making it easier for them to remember new language concepts. Due to these positive results, SISI is expected to effectively boost language development in young deaf students. ^{3 4 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for deaf children in kindergarten to 3rd grade. To participate, they must be randomly selected from their classes and have no other conditions that would affect the study's results.

Inclusion Criteria

My child is deaf and in K-3rd grade at a school for the deaf.

Exclusion Criteria

My child can hear.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline

Children remain in the baseline phase before receiving Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI)

3-9 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI) and their language skills are monitored and assessed daily

9 academic months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for the development of target sign language skills

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction

Trial Overview The trial tests Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction on language development. Eight children will receive this instruction individually while being monitored daily using a specific research design.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Single Case Research Design: Phase 4 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A randomized selection method will be employed to select deaf children to participate in single case research. Two children will be selected from each age group between 5 and 10, making a total of eight students. Their language skills will be closely monitored and evaluated over the course of the year. Following the noncurrent multiple baseline design, in succession across 8 child participants in 4 classes, 2 SCRD participants in a class will begin receiving SISI while other children remain in the baseline for 3 weeks.

Group II: Single Case Research Design: Phase 3 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A randomized selection method will be employed to select deaf children to participate in single case research. Two children will be selected from each age group between 5 and 10, making a total of eight students. Their language skills will be closely monitored and evaluated over the course of the year. Following the noncurrent multiple baseline design, in succession across 8 child participants in 4 classes, 2 SCRD participants in a class will begin receiving SISI while other children remain in the baseline for 3 weeks.

Group III: Single Case Research Design: Phase 2 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A randomized selection method will be employed to select deaf children to participate in single case research. Two children will be selected from each age group between 5 and 10, making a total of eight students. Their language skills will be closely monitored and evaluated over the course of the year. Following the noncurrent multiple baseline design, in succession across 8 child participants in 4 classes, three weeks after Phase 1 participants have begun SISI, Phase 2 participants in a class will begin receiving SISI while other children remain in the baseline.

Group IV: Single Case Research Design: Phase 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A randomized selection method will be employed to select deaf children to participate in single case research. Two children will be selected from each age group between 5 and 10, making a total of eight students. Their language skills will be closely monitored and evaluated over the course of the year. Following the noncurrent multiple baseline design, in succession across 8 child participants in 4 classes, 2 Phase 1 participants in a class will begin receiving SISI while other children remain in the baseline for 3 to 9 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Lead Sponsor

Trials

93

Recruited

19,500+

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A training program effectively taught manual sign language skills to various staff members (including paraprofessionals, habilitation specialists, and nurses) in three studies, ensuring they could communicate with severely and profoundly mentally retarded individuals.

The staff not only learned the signs quickly but also maintained their skills over time and incorporated them into daily interactions, highlighting the importance of training caregivers for functional communication in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A rapid training procedure for teaching manual sign language skills to multidisciplinary institutional staff. Fitzgerald, JR., Reid, DH., Schepis, MM., et al.[2019]

Younger deaf signing children (aged 4-7) showed more frequent omissions of signs compared to older children (aged 8-12) and deaf signing adults, indicating that age impacts the mastery of Italian Sign Language (LIS).

The study found that non-manual components (like facial expressions) used alongside manual signs are particularly challenging for younger children to learn, highlighting specific areas where linguistic skills develop more slowly.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sign Language Skills Assessed Through a Sentence Reproduction Task. Rinaldi, P., Caselli, MC., Lucioli, T., et al.[2019]

A 66-week sign language training program for a brain-damaged, aphasic patient resulted in the learning of 14 signs, demonstrating the potential for communication improvement in such patients.

Inclusion of a peer during training significantly enhanced the patient's performance and socialization, leading to increased eye contact, gestures, and attempted speech, with retention of skills observed even months after the program ended.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer-facilitated sign language training for a geriatric stroke victim with chronic brain damage. Wisocki, PA., Mosher, PM.[2015]

Citations

1. ies.ed.gov ies.ed.gov/use-work/awards/efficacy-study-strategic-and-interactive-writing-instruction-siwi-teacher-development-and-student

Teacher Development and Student Outcomes | IES The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI) professional development (PD) program.

2. siwi.utk.edu siwi.utk.edu/efficacy-study/

A 4-Year Efficacy Study (2017-2023) The purpose of this 4-year study is to investigate the efficacy of the SIWI professional development program for improving teacher knowledge and practices.

3. taggs.hhs.gov taggs.hhs.gov/Detail/AwardDetail?arg_AwardNum=R21DC021024&arg_ProgOfficeCode=45

Award Information | HHS TAGGS Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI): An intervention program to support sign language development in deaf children ; Award Number: R21DC021024 ...

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/signing-instruction-for-language-development-bac8f

Signing Instruction for Language Development What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI) for language development? Research shows that ...

5. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21571902/

"I was born full deaf." Written language outcomes after 1 ... With the implementation of Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI) in previous studies, students have demonstrated significant gains in high-level ...

6. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/search/rT1eVfRC6kOckwR9EmljRQ/project-details/10979164

Strategic and Interactive Signing Instruction (SISI) Growing evidence demonstrates that more complex sign language skills positively predict literacy skills and may lead to improved health outcomes. This project ...

7. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/306715/quasi-experimental-study-strategic-and-interactive-signing-instruction/

Quasi-Experimental Study: Strategic and Interactive ... This quasi-experimental study is designed to evaluate the effects of the Signing and Integrated Signing Instruction (SISI) framework on teachers ...

8. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/8/1104

A Scoping Review of Literacy Interventions Using Signed ... This scoping review explores the articles that emerged across four databases from 2014 to 2025 regarding the efficacy of strategies and interventions using a ...