Actively Recruiting
Social Influences on Sensorimotor Integration of Speech Production and Perception During Early Vocal Learning
Led by University of Southern California · Updated on 2024-06-18
120
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
13 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Southern California
Lead Sponsor
C
Cornell University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are investigating how social factors influence early speech learning, including both speech production and perception, in infants aged approximately 7 to 18 months. The study focuses on infants with typical hearing and those with sensorineural hearing loss. The main aim is to understand whether social reinforcement can improve vocal learning beyond the gains achieved through hearing improvement in infants with hearing loss. The study involves two groups: in the experimental group, parents are guided to respond to their infants' babbling by saying simple nonsense words that share similar sounds, reinforcing vocal attempts. In the control group, parents say nonsense words at random times, not necessarily in response to infant vocalizations. The study sessions include free play where these interactions occur, followed by infants hearing playback of the same words. This setup allows researchers to observe how social responses affect speech learning. Participants engage in multiple visits where their vocalizations and responses are recorded and analyzed over 30-minute sessions and at follow-up visits up to 180 days later. Assessments include changes in vocal patterns during sessions, perception evaluations, and communicative development inventories at specified ages. The study uses remote observation and recordings, with researchers providing instructions to parents via headphones. Safety monitoring and long-term follow-up are part of the process, capturing the progress in infant vocal learning over time.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Social Influences on Sensorimotor Integration of Speech Production and Perception During Early Vocal Learning
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Infants approximately 7 to 16 months old at study start
- Infants less than 24 months old allowed for follow-up visits only
- At least one English-speaking or Spanish-speaking parent in the home who can participate
- Infants with typical hearing, hearing loss, or hearing loss treated with hearing aids or cochlear implants
You will not qualify if you...
- Infants not exposed to English or Spanish in the home
- Infants without a parent able to participate (caregivers who are not parents are not eligible)
AI-Screening
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Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Single session lasting approximately 30 minutes
Participants engage in social vocal interactions where parents provide vocal-social reinforcement or randomized nonsense word responses during play with their infants to study vocal learning.
1 baseline visit (in-person)
Duration - Up to 6 months after initial visit
Participants return for up to three additional visits over a period of 30 to 180 days to assess changes in vocal development and perception.
Up to 3 follow-up visits (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90089
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Sarah W Bottjer, Ph.D.
M
Martin Nunez Rivera, B.S.
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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