Actively Recruiting
Using a Speech-Generating Device to Support Communication in Childhood Dementia
Led by Murdoch Childrens Research Institute · Updated on 2025-11-19
38
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
77 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Individuals with childhood dementia experience loss of developmental skills and many have limited verbal speech. The aim of this clinical trial is to examine how well a speech-generating device supports the communication skills of participants with childhood dementia. The speech-generating device is a communication program loaded onto an iPad. This is a crossover trial, meaning that each participant will receive both the treatment (device) and a control (usual care; no device) phase. The order in which each participant receives the device versus the usual care (no device) will depend on which group the participant is assigned to. The changes in communication in each phase will then be compared. During the trial, participants can expect to complete a series of assessments and attend a total of 2 x 1-hour therapy session per week for 6 weeks.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Using a Speech-Generating Device to Support Communication in Childhood Dementia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Is between the ages of 3 and 12 years, inclusive, at the time of enrolment
- Has a genetically confirmed Childhood Dementia as defined in Elvidge et al. (2023) or listed on childhooddementia.org
- Passes a visual-motor screening test, able to tap on an iPad spontaneously or by imitation, and has adequate hearing
- Is minimally verbal with fewer than 20 spontaneous words or gestalts at baseline, confirmed with the LVIS
- Is not currently using a speech-generating device proficiently as a main mode of communication
- Is English-speaking or consents to therapy in English and parents can complete English measures
You will not qualify if you...
- Has an additional or dual genetic variation that may cause complications
- Is extremely ill or in a late disease stage with significant loss of vision, hearing, fine motor skills, or unable to attend sessions
- Lives outside the state of Victoria, making in-person appointments difficult
- Is unable or unwilling to provide written informed consent by participant or legal representative
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Angela T Morgan
CONTACT
S
Shui J Wong
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Number of Arms
2
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