How Language Develops, What Goes Wrong, And Why It Matters: Following The Early Language In Victoria Study To Age 13
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$857,242.00
Summary
One in five children start school with low language. Little is known about the long term effects on developmental, educational attainment and other outcomes later in life. In this landmark study we will track the children's language, literacy and wellbeing from ages 8 to 12 years. We will capture the children's ability as they finish their primary school education and prior to the crucial transfer to high school.
Preventing Early Language Delay In Primary Care Setting:cluster Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,133.00
Summary
The trial aims to lower the numbers of children with poor expressive language skills at ages 2 and 3 years, through a sustainable early language promotion program linked to the universal Victorian Maternal and Child Health (M and CH) service, attended by more than 75% of Victorian children at 12 months of age. The trial targets the 20% of toddlers most at risk of expressive language delay, by virtue of having limited or no spoken vocabulary at 18 months of age. It also aims to lower the numbers ....The trial aims to lower the numbers of children with poor expressive language skills at ages 2 and 3 years, through a sustainable early language promotion program linked to the universal Victorian Maternal and Child Health (M and CH) service, attended by more than 75% of Victorian children at 12 months of age. The trial targets the 20% of toddlers most at risk of expressive language delay, by virtue of having limited or no spoken vocabulary at 18 months of age. It also aims to lower the numbers of children with behaviour problems (strongly linked to language delay), to determine the acceptability and cost-effectiveness of the approach, and to determine whether it differentially benefits disadvantaged children.Read moreRead less
Neurocognitive substrates of naming facilitation in aphasia. This research directly addresses the national research priority goal of ageing well, ageing productively, by providing foundational knowledge for improved outcomes in the growing population of individuals in Australia with language impairments from age-related disease. Outcomes of the proposed research will include (1) development of a new theory of word production which can improve treatment of language impairment, (2) an enhanced und ....Neurocognitive substrates of naming facilitation in aphasia. This research directly addresses the national research priority goal of ageing well, ageing productively, by providing foundational knowledge for improved outcomes in the growing population of individuals in Australia with language impairments from age-related disease. Outcomes of the proposed research will include (1) development of a new theory of word production which can improve treatment of language impairment, (2) an enhanced understanding of the cognitive and brain mechanisms involved in word production and its treatment after stroke, and (3) postgraduate training in state-of-the-art cognitive neuroimaging and language neuroscience research. Read moreRead less
Improving Outcomes Of Preschool Language Delay In The Community: Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$927,327.00
Summary
7-15% of preschool children have language delay, so are vulnerable to poor lifelong academic, social and economic outcomes. Small trials suggest that intervention helps. This randomized trial aims to find out the population costs and benefits of optimized intervention for 4 year olds following systematic identification of language delay. Because we have studied the 1500 participants since infancy, the trial could also shed light on why some children respond better than others to treatment.
Children's Changing Speech Error Patterns: Articulating, Listening, and Thinking. When children are learning to talk, they make many errors of pronunciation. Between speech onset and five years of age, their pronunciations change, gradually approaching adult pronunciations of words. Most children share the same error patterns, although 6% have difficulty acquiring intelligible speech, that affects their academic and social development. The investigation will examine factors that contribute to ....Children's Changing Speech Error Patterns: Articulating, Listening, and Thinking. When children are learning to talk, they make many errors of pronunciation. Between speech onset and five years of age, their pronunciations change, gradually approaching adult pronunciations of words. Most children share the same error patterns, although 6% have difficulty acquiring intelligible speech, that affects their academic and social development. The investigation will examine factors that contribute to the acquisition of speech in normally developing and speech-disordered populations: oro-motor skills, auditory and cognitive processing. Experiments will determine the importance of each domain for speech development. The efficacy of a novel intervention programme for children with speech disorders will be evaluated.Read moreRead less
Stuttering in childhood: Patterns of recovery and persistence. This project will benefit the 1 in 20 Australian children who stutter and their families. We will learn for the first time how stuttering impacts on child development in the early school years and document the relationship between stuttering and other childhood conditions. The study will produce much needed information about recovery from stuttering and stuttering persistence. Therefore new knowledge will result to inform the scienti ....Stuttering in childhood: Patterns of recovery and persistence. This project will benefit the 1 in 20 Australian children who stutter and their families. We will learn for the first time how stuttering impacts on child development in the early school years and document the relationship between stuttering and other childhood conditions. The study will produce much needed information about recovery from stuttering and stuttering persistence. Therefore new knowledge will result to inform the scientific community and provide professionals and families with much needed evidence-based information about stuttering progression. Together this information will inform intervention approaches and help direct resources to those children who need them most. Read moreRead less
Communication outcomes of preterm children: prevalence, description and intervention. Premature birth places children at risk of major disability, yet the majority of children are considered neurologically normal and disability free. However in follow-up studies at school age, preterm children are found to have lower verbal and nonverbal abilities that affects their academic and social development. Preterm children are six times more likely to require special educational support. This investigat ....Communication outcomes of preterm children: prevalence, description and intervention. Premature birth places children at risk of major disability, yet the majority of children are considered neurologically normal and disability free. However in follow-up studies at school age, preterm children are found to have lower verbal and nonverbal abilities that affects their academic and social development. Preterm children are six times more likely to require special educational support. This investigation will examine the communication skills, cognitive processes and academic progress of children born preterm. The findings will provide an evidence base for decisions about monitoring and intervention of preterm infants at greater risk for poorer speech-language and academic outcomes.Read moreRead less
Population Outcomes And Cost-effectiveness Of Universal Newborn Hearing Vs Risk Factor Screening At Age 5 Years.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,423.00
Summary
Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) is being widely implemented because it is thought to greatly improve outcomes for children with congenital deafness. However, it is also very costly. Between 2003-5, all New South Wales babies were offered UNHS, while Victorian babies were offered a risk-factor screening and referral program. This two-year 'natural experiment' paves the way for a unique population effectiveness and cost-effectiveness study of UNHS as the children reach 5 years of age.
Home-based Speech Treatment For Parkinsons Disease Via Telerehabilitation : Clinical And Economic Outcomes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,793.00
Summary
Parkinson's Disease affects a person's ability to speak clearly. Speech pathologists can provide effective treatment for this speech disorder. Access to a speech pathologist, however, is difficult for many people with Parkinson's Disease due to their physical difficulties and the limited availability of speech pathology services in rural areas. This study demonstrates the use of telerehabilitation to deliver speech treatment to people with Parkinson's Disease in their own homes via the Internet.
A study of early stuttering. Stuttering affects 1 in 20 Australian children. Stuttering disrupts and prevents normal verbal communication, significantly interferes with social interaction and can affect the attainment of educational and occupational potential. Australia leads the world in stuttering research. This innovative study will document the onset of stuttering and describe its progression, an area that is not well described or understood. This project will contribute new knowledge about ....A study of early stuttering. Stuttering affects 1 in 20 Australian children. Stuttering disrupts and prevents normal verbal communication, significantly interferes with social interaction and can affect the attainment of educational and occupational potential. Australia leads the world in stuttering research. This innovative study will document the onset of stuttering and describe its progression, an area that is not well described or understood. This project will contribute new knowledge about the onset of stuttering thereby benefiting children worldwide and their families. It will inform clinical practice and improve the evidence underpinning the advice given to parents of children who stutter.Read moreRead less