Speech production in language-impaired speakers: Informing theoretical models and clinical practice regarding grammatical processing. This research examines how language is stored and processed in our minds and the ways this can go wrong. By improving our theory of language processing, the research will result in improved diagnosis and treatment for the ten per cent of Australians who suffer from communication impairment.
Learning to Talk, Talking to Learn: Effects of an early childhood language program in remote Northern Territory indigenous communities. Both the quality and quantity of language children hear, and adult understandings of child development, drive children's future outcomes. Understanding how to improve both is critical to the lifelong education, employment and social potential of children from low socioeconomic families, especially with hearing loss. This project aims to examine to what extent a ....Learning to Talk, Talking to Learn: Effects of an early childhood language program in remote Northern Territory indigenous communities. Both the quality and quantity of language children hear, and adult understandings of child development, drive children's future outcomes. Understanding how to improve both is critical to the lifelong education, employment and social potential of children from low socioeconomic families, especially with hearing loss. This project aims to examine to what extent a parent-implemented early childhood language program designed to buffer against effects of childhood otitis media can support indigenous children in remote northern Australia. Outcomes aim to be data on effects on children's language, attention, and school readiness, plus uptake of strategies and knowledge by parents and other adults, and evidence regarding best practice in such contexts.Read moreRead less
Developing better treatments for language disorders. This project will enable better treatment of people with disorders affecting language such as aphasia, dyslexia, and dementia. It will achieve this through development of more detailed theories of language processing, better assessment of language disorders and a better understanding of how treatments for language disorders have their effects.
A sound start: innovative technology to promote speech and pre-literacy skills in at-risk preschoolers. One in five Australian preschoolers have speech impairment and without specialist services face an increased risk of reading difficulties and life-long consequences. Given that demand for services exceeds supply, this project will determine if a preschool computer-based service can promote speech development and reduce risk of reading difficulty.
Vietnamese-Australian children's speech and language competence. This project aims to support Vietnamese-Australian children and families to maintain their home language, enhance speech skills in Vietnamese and English and equip English-speaking professionals to support multilingual children’s speech. Expected outcomes include enhanced language maintenance and scalable prototypes for other languages. This project should provide cultural, economic and social benefits for Australia including incre ....Vietnamese-Australian children's speech and language competence. This project aims to support Vietnamese-Australian children and families to maintain their home language, enhance speech skills in Vietnamese and English and equip English-speaking professionals to support multilingual children’s speech. Expected outcomes include enhanced language maintenance and scalable prototypes for other languages. This project should provide cultural, economic and social benefits for Australia including increased multilingualism, social cohesion, and enhanced capacity to participate in a globalised economy.Read moreRead less
Resonance: a digital media art work for cooperative group interaction in the rehabilitation of acquired brain injury. The project, titled 'resonance', encompasses the design and development of an interactive multimedia artwork for rehabilitation of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). The artwork will promote cooperative group interaction between patients, enhancing their motor and cognitive recovery.
Better prevention and management of disabling back pain. This project will establish a program of back pain research within an inter-disciplinary research centre focused on the prevention and management of physical disability.
The flipside of noise: Does it benefit listening and learning? People with low attention capacity can experience improvements in cognitive function (eg memory) in the presence of external white noise. This project aims to determine the brain mechanisms for this improvement and how it affects oral language comprehension and verbal learning. In doing so, the research would change the prevailing view that noise is always detrimental to mental processes, and provide a theoretical framework for predi ....The flipside of noise: Does it benefit listening and learning? People with low attention capacity can experience improvements in cognitive function (eg memory) in the presence of external white noise. This project aims to determine the brain mechanisms for this improvement and how it affects oral language comprehension and verbal learning. In doing so, the research would change the prevailing view that noise is always detrimental to mental processes, and provide a theoretical framework for predicting how an individual’s cognitive capacity is affected by the presence of noise. It may support the development of methods to improve educational participation and outcomes for children, particularly those with lower attention, and for older adults.Read moreRead less
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Virtual Reality Therapy After Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,264.00
Summary
Stroke is the second largest cause of disability in Australia. There is no cure, so patients must rely on therapy to restore movement. We want to make rehabilitation more effective. This study compares virtual reality game therapy (using the Nintendo Wii) to current best practice (constraint therapy). We anticipate patients will improve more with Wii therapy. Because it is fun, patients will enjoy therapy and spend longer training resulting in a greater recovery and better movement ability.