MedTrace Logo

Using a Speech-Generating Device to Support Communication in Childhood Dementia

NCT07039084 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 38

Last updated 2025-11-19

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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

  • Childhood Dementia
  • Genetic Disease
  • Nonverbal Communication
  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Interventions

DEVICE

Speech-generating device

The device is an iPad loaded with a grid-based and speech-generating communication application - a suitable application for the participant is determined at the beginning of the trial. This device is used in all 12 therapy sessions and implemented by a qualified speech pathologist in a natural, play-based setting.

OTHER

Control

Participants will continue their current model of care. This means that if participants are receiving speech therapy locally, they may continue to do so given that no speech-generating device is introduced or used during this time. Participants will check in with the researching clinician at least once a week via telehealth or phone call - the aim is to stay in contact with families and reduce loss to follow-up. The clinician will also monitor treatment integrity and document any differences that may be present during this phase.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
3 Years
Max Age
12 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-11-03
Primary Completion
2027-05-31
Completion
2027-05-31

Countries

  • Australia

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

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 NCT07039084 on ClinicalTrials.gov