Enhancing communication in children with Down Syndrome RCTs

Enhancing Communication in Children with Down Syndrome: A Synthesis of RCTs

Communication and language development are critical areas of focus for children with Down Syndrome (DS). Various interventions have been explored to enhance these skills, often involving parents, clinicians, and technology. This synthesis reviews the findings from multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to provide a cohesive understanding of effective strategies.

Key Insights from Research

Parent-Mediated Interventions:
- Parent-mediated interventions can improve how parents interact and communicate with their children, although the evidence on direct improvements in children's language abilities is inconsistent and of low quality .
- These interventions often lead to better parental behavior and responsivity, which can indirectly benefit children's communication skills .
Dose Frequency of Interventions:
- Higher frequency of intervention sessions (five 1-hour sessions per week) leads to greater vocabulary growth in children with DS compared to lower frequency sessions (one 1-hour session per week).
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC):
- AAC tools, such as speech-generating devices (SGDs) and the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), significantly aid communication and socialization in children with DS, enhancing their interaction with peers and overall quality of life .
- The use of manual signs combined with verbal models within a play-based framework can facilitate expressive communication development in young children with DS.
Total Communication Approach:
- The Total Communication approach, which integrates multiple communication methods (e.g., speech, signs, gestures), shows promise in enhancing expressive language skills in children with DS.
Parent-Implemented Augmented Communication:
- Parent-implemented interventions that include SGDs can improve functional vocabulary usage and communication interaction skills without hindering spoken vocabulary development.
Behavioral Interventions:
- Interventions focusing on imitation and requesting skills, using techniques like shaping, prompting, and reinforcement, can effectively address early communication impairments in children with DS.

Conclusion

The research indicates that parent-mediated interventions, high-frequency sessions, and the use of AAC tools are promising strategies for enhancing communication in children with Down Syndrome. While the evidence on direct language improvements is mixed, these interventions positively impact parental behavior and children's socialization skills. Future studies should focus on well-designed RCTs with larger sample sizes to validate these findings and explore the long-term effects of these interventions.

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Enhancing communication in children with Down Syndrome RCTs

Summary

Enhancing Communication in Children with Down Syndrome: A Synthesis of RCTs

Key Insights from Research

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Parent-mediated interventions for promoting communication and language development in young children with Down syndrome.

Parent-mediated interventions can improve communication and language development in young children with Down syndrome, but more research is needed.

Interventions to improve child-parent-medical provider communication: A systematic review.

Interventions involving role-playing, seminars, and standardized children can improve communication between children, parents, and medical providers.

Effects of dose frequency of early communication intervention in young children with and without Down syndrome.

High dose frequency of early communication intervention (MCT) is more effective for children with intellectual disabilities than low dose frequency (LDF).

Augmentative and alternative communication in children with Down’s syndrome: a systematic review

Speech-generating devices and PECS are effective tools for augmentative and alternative communication in children with Down's syndrome, improving their quality of life and self-esteem.

Parent‐mediated interventions to promote communication and language development in children with Down syndrome aged between birth and six years

Parent-mediated interventions can improve communication and language development in children with Down syndrome aged between birth and six years, potentially enhancing parental behavior and responsivity.

Using Total Communication With Young Children With Down Syndrome: A Literature Review and Case Study

Total Communication effectively promotes expressive language development in young children with Down syndrome, while comprehension remains unaffected.

Effects of a naturalistic sign intervention on expressive language of toddlers with Down syndrome.

EMT/JASPER Words + Signs intervention, combining manual signs and verbal models in a play-based framework, effectively facilitates expressive sign and word communication in young children with Down syndrome.

Parent-Implemented Communication Intervention

Parent-implemented communication interventions for toddlers with developmental delays, autism, or Down syndrome lead to increased parent capacity-building and improved child outcomes.

Advancing imitation and requesting skills in toddlers with Down syndrome.

Toddlers with Down syndrome can learn verbal imitation and requesting skills through shaping, prompting, and reinforcement, incorporating social development strengths.

Parent-implemented augmented communication intervention and young children with Down syndrome: an exploratory report

Parent-implemented augmented communication interventions using speech-generating devices can improve functional vocabulary usage and communication interaction skills in young children with Down syndrome.

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