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Retrieval-Based Word Learning in Developmental Language Disorder

NCT05325333 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 28

Last updated 2025-08-29

Study results available
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Summary

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD; also referred to as specific language impairment) experience a significant deficit in language ability that is longstanding and harmful to the children's academic, social, and eventual economic wellbeing. Word learning is one of the principal weaknesses in these children. This project focuses on the word learning abilities of four- and five-year-old children with DLD. The goal of the project is to build on our previous work to determine whether, as we have found thus far, special benefits accrue when these children must frequently recall newly introduced words during the course of learning. In this first of a series of studies, we seek to increase the children's absolute levels of learning while maintaining the advantage that repeated retrieval holds over comparison methods of learning.

Conditions

  • Developmental Language Disorder
  • Specific Language Impairment
  • Language Development

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Retrieval-based word learning: Expanding retrieval practice schedule

Learning sessions: Novel nouns and their meanings are practiced on Day 1. Retrieval trials will initially be immediate. In the expanding condition, the next two retrieval trials will each occur after 1 intervening word and then after 3 intervening words for the remainder of the session. This practice schedule is repeated the next day (Day 2).

BEHAVIORAL

Retrieval-based word learning: Standard retrieval practice schedule

Learning sessions: Novel nouns and their meanings are practiced on Day 1. Retrieval trials will initially be immediate. In the standard condition, all remaining retrieval trials will occur after 3 intervening words. This practice schedule is repeated the next day (Day 2).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

    collaborator NIH

  • Purdue University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Laurence B. Leonard, PhD · Purdue University

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age
48 Months
Max Age
71 Months
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2022-03-16
Primary Completion
2024-02-12
Completion
2024-02-12

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05325333 on ClinicalTrials.gov