Exercise Training to Improve Language and Motor Skills in Children Ages 5 to 9 Comparing Physical Exercise and Restful Play for Children With and Without Developmental Language Disorder

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to better understand fitness levels, participation in physical activities, and fine and gross motor skills in children with developmental language disorder DLD, a condition affecting about 1 in 13 children. Children with DLD often have poorer motor skills compared to typically developing peers. The study also evaluates whether physical exercise can help both children with DLD and those with typical development improve learning, fitness, and motor abilities more than restful play activities. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups an exercise program or a restful play program. The exercise group will engage in activities targeting cardiovascular fitness, agility, balance, strength, and endurance, while the restful play group will do activities like coloring and playing with legos. Both programs will run three times a week for six weeks, with children participating in only one of the two programs. Throughout the study, children will undergo tests of communication, motor skills, and fitness before treatment, immediately after the six-week program, and again at one and three months post-treatment. Researchers will measure changes in cognitive-linguistic performance, reaction times, fitness levels, and motor abilities. Enjoyment of the intervention will also be assessed after each session. This study will provide important information to help improve treatments for children with communication and motor skill challenges.

Exercise Training in Children With Communication Impairments