Efficacy of AAC for Functional Communication

March 30, 2021 updated by: Riphah International University

Efficacy of Using Augmentative Alternative Communication for Functional Communication in Group Activities

There is a considerable number children who are unable to speak, and our currently not being provided with any AAC options in their therapeutic facilities. The study aims to identify the current practice being employed with these children and then provide an AAC intervention for choice making with in group activities in the existing system, where the child is enrolled. Currently there is no indigenous evidence of AAC being employed effectively with these children. A pre- assessment will be carried out to establish the level of communication of the children. Intervention will be provided in a group for 6 weeks, three days a week, as these children already attend these groups.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The study is a novel approach to intervention in Pakistan. There are currently no such studies conducted on intervention using AAC use in Pakistan. The objective of the the study are as follows

  1. To compare establish current practices with AAC for choice making in group activities.
  2. To determine the frequency of choice making in structured group activities.

Hypothesis:

Null Hypothesis:

The use of augmentative alternative communication does not increase functional communication in group activities.

Alternative Hypothesis:

The use of augmentative alternative communication increases functional communication in group activities.

Study Setting: Step to Learn School

Assessment: An assessment will be carried out using the online Communication Matrix to establish baseline communication skills of all the children. The children will also be assessed informally for their current means of communication in existing group activity at baseline, mid level (3 weeks) and at the end of the study (6 weeks).

Intervention: Intervention will (3 days a week for 6 weeks) be provided through objects, picture cards placed on a choice board. The choice will be given for Rhymes, Individual Rhymes & Sensory objects. Auditory, visual and tactile prompts will be provided.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

12

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab
      • Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan, 46000
        • Riphah Child Development Centre & Step to Learn School

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

4 years to 12 years (CHILD)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children with special needs
  • Children not currently using any AAC

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Children with any co-morbid conditions.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
  • Allocation: NA
  • Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
OTHER: Rhymes, Individual Items in Rhymes, Objects
Existing method Post intervention
Other: Rhymes

Participants will be provided with a choice of 3 Nursery rhymes (Wheels on the bus, Old McDonald and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) Objects pertaining to the 3 rhymes will be placed on a board Children will be given prompts as per their need and will be marked on the type of prompt given.

These children will transit to pictures and Makaton symbols, if they are able to make choices using objects.

Other: Individual Items in Rhymes

Participants will be provided with a choice of 3 pictures within the initial choice making of the 2 Nursery rhymes (Wheels on the bus and Old McDonald ) Wheels on the Bus will include - mama/wipers/horn McDonalds - cow/dog/cat Objects pertaining to the 3 rhymes will be placed on a board Children will be given prompts as per their need and will be marked on the type of prompt given.

These children will transit to pictures and Makaton symbols, if they are able to make choices using objects.

Other: Objects
Participants will be provided with 2,3 and 4 sensory objects. Participants will opt for an object by making a choice between these objects, if this is achieved then the child will be moved to picture level and symbol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Self designed Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Self designed questionnaire to address choice making in objects, pictures and symbols in three activities Rhymes, Items in Rhymes and Objects
6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ayesha K Butt, PhD, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

January 1, 2020

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

December 15, 2020

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

December 15, 2020

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 6, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 9, 2020

First Posted (ACTUAL)

October 12, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

April 2, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 30, 2021

Last Verified

March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/00738 Sheeba Sharazi

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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