Language Difficulties in British Sign LanguageNCT02579668
Language Therapy in British Sign Language
A study testing Language Therapy in people with Language Difficulties in British Sign Language, run by University College, London.
Trial summary
In the United Kingdom, the language of the Deaf community is British Sign Language (BSL). A small proportion of Deaf young people who use BSL as their first or dominant language have specific language difficulties and would benefit from language therapy provided in sign language by adults who are fluent in BSL and may… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 8 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Language Difficulties in British Sign Language
- What is being tested?
- Language Therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 29 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Sep 2014to May 2016
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 8 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- National Deaf Child and AdolescentDeaf practitioners will be eligible to participate and only volunteers will be included that have manager's approval, are working with a young person who meets the inclusion criteria;
- Aged 8-15yrs
- Capacity to consent to participation in activities
- Language difficulties in BSL identified in their care plan
- Consent from carers/parents
Who cannot join
- Young people with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, severe mental illness of risk factors that would make intervention unsafe.
About this study
Official title: Language Therapy in British Sign Language - a Pilot Study to Explore the Use of Therapeutic Strategies and Resources by Deaf Adults With Young People Who Have Language Difficulties in BSL.
In the United Kingdom, the language of the Deaf community is British Sign Language (BSL). A small proportion of Deaf young people who use BSL as their first or dominant language have specific language difficulties and would benefit from language therapy provided in sign language by adults who are fluent in BSL and may be Deaf. Some Deaf adults are currently employed in education and health services to support children's BSL development. However there is little training or information available to these adults about language assessment, diagnosis of language difficulties or intervention strategies.
Recent studies have highlighted language difficulties and therapy in sign as an issues and begun to explore Deaf adults understanding of language difficulties and disorder. This project aims to extend knowledge in this area by supporting Deaf practitioners to understand and develop language therapy skills and co-develop language therapy intervention resources. The study will pilot training for practitioners and language therapy interventions for young people.
Read the detailed description
The study will be in three phases. The design has been discussed at regular Language Working Group Meetings with Deaf practitioner colleagues who may want to volunteer to be involved in the project.
In Phase 1, information will be sought from Deaf practitioners in focus groups and from questionnaires about the strategies and resources they currently employ when working with Deaf young people with language difficulties. This information will be compared to evidence based models of therapy for spoken English to see whether similar themes emerge. The findings will also be used to identify themes for other strategies and resources Deaf practitioners use which are not present in spoken English language therapy. The data gathered will be included in planning the next phase of the project. Scenarios and questions similar to those planned for the focus group and questionnaire have been trialed at Service training days and feedback has been gathered from staff involved.
Phase 2 will involve working with Deaf practitioners to develop and define strategies and resources for language therapy in BSL. These will be with a small group of three or four Deaf practitioners. Dynamic assessment and mediated learning principles will be used to identify key skills and resources for Deaf practitioners in providing language therapy.
This process, including pre and post involvement questionnaires, will use video observation and reflective practise tools. Analysis of a language therapy intervention session by a Deaf practitioner will provide a snapshot or 'assessment' of their initial skills and knowledge. Then, over a period of six sessions, videos of the Deaf practitioner working with a young person on language activities will be jointly analysed and reflected upon to identify strategies and resources that are or would be useful in this working context. This joint analysis between the researcher, a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, and the Deaf practitioner will provided teaching, learning and reflection opportunities. Finally the video analysis by the Deaf practitioner, without reflection with the researcher, will be repeated to give a second 'assessment' of the Deaf practitioner's skills and knowledge. The Deaf practitioner will be asked to give feedback on this process, identifying helpful strategies discussed, issues with the process and information they feel would be useful to other Deaf practitioners completing similar work with young people. Deaf practitioners will work with deaf young people who are currently on their clinical caseload and have previously been identified as having language difficulties. These young people and their families will be informed about the project and, if they consent to participate, will participate in the six sessions led by the Deaf practitioner.
The information gained from this process will identify useful strategies and resources. Validation will be sought by comparing evidence based language therapy strategies and resources from spoken English with those identified by Deaf practitioners in Phase 1 and those found to be useful by Deaf practitioners in Phase 2. These will be used to develop a training package containing strategies, resources and guiding principles for Deaf practitioners using BSL for language therapy delivery.
In phase 3, single case studies will be undertaken. These will include training other Deaf practitioners to use strategies and resources with Deaf young people. Qualitative information from Deaf practitioners and young people, as well as quantitative information from pre and post intervention language assessments and sample video clips, will be analysed to ascertain whether the training in strategies and resources enables Deaf practitioners to use identified intervention strategies and develop the language skills of Deaf young people. The qualitative data will be gathered through the use of reflective logs and questionnaires. The quantitative data will be gathered through the use of structured language assessment activities. Young people and their parents will also provide qualitative information about the process through questionnaires or interviews, depending on their communication mode (English, another spoken language or BSL) and their preference.
- Being tested
- Language Therapy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Language TherapyOther
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Language therapy in BSL | Experimental | Working with Deaf practitioners to provide language activities in British Sign Language aimed at developing children's language skills. Receives: Other: Language Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Qualitative questionnaire measure of Deaf participants views.
Deaf practitioners will provide their views on how training and supervision for intervention activities has impacted on their skills and understanding.
Measured: Up to ten months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Oct 2015 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2014
- Primary completionMay 2016
- Study completionMay 2016
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Language Difficulties in British Sign LanguageStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University College, LondonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 29 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University College, London
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02579668
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 13/0476
- Status last verified
- Oct 2015
- First submitted
- 7 Sep 2015
- Last updated
- 30 May 2016
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 May 2016. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Language Therapy in British Sign Language - a Pilot Study to Explore the Use of Therapeutic Strategies and Resources by Deaf Adults With Young People Who Have Language Difficulties in BSL.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02579668
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 13/0476
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 29 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University College, LondonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2014
- Primary completion
- May 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- May 2016 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Oct 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
In the United Kingdom, the language of the Deaf community is British Sign Language (BSL). A small proportion of Deaf young people who use BSL as their first or dominant language have specific language difficulties and would benefit from language therapy provided in sign language by adults who are fluent in BSL and may be Deaf. Some Deaf adults are currently employed in education and health services to support children's BSL development. However there is little training or information available to these adults about language assessment, diagnosis of language difficulties or intervention strategies.
Recent studies have highlighted language difficulties and therapy in sign as an issues and begun to explore Deaf adults understanding of language difficulties and disorder. This project aims to extend knowledge in this area by supporting Deaf practitioners to understand and develop language therapy skills and co-develop language therapy intervention resources. The study will pilot training for practitioners and language therapy interventions for young people.
Detailed description
The study will be in three phases. The design has been discussed at regular Language Working Group Meetings with Deaf practitioner colleagues who may want to volunteer to be involved in the project.
In Phase 1, information will be sought from Deaf practitioners in focus groups and from questionnaires about the strategies and resources they currently employ when working with Deaf young people with language difficulties. This information will be compared to evidence based models of therapy for spoken English to see whether similar themes emerge. The findings will also be used to identify themes for other strategies and resources Deaf practitioners use which are not present in spoken English language therapy. The data gathered will be included in planning the next phase of the project. Scenarios and questions similar to those planned for the focus group and questionnaire have been trialed at Service training days and feedback has been gathered from staff involved.
Phase 2 will involve working with Deaf practitioners to develop and define strategies and resources for language therapy in BSL. These will be with a small group of three or four Deaf practitioners. Dynamic assessment and mediated learning principles will be used to identify key skills and resources for Deaf practitioners in providing language therapy.
This process, including pre and post involvement questionnaires, will use video observation and reflective practise tools. Analysis of a language therapy intervention session by a Deaf practitioner will provide a snapshot or 'assessment' of their initial skills and knowledge. Then, over a period of six sessions, videos of the Deaf practitioner working with a young person on language activities will be jointly analysed and reflected upon to identify strategies and resources that are or would be useful in this working context. This joint analysis between the researcher, a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, and the Deaf practitioner will provided teaching, learning and reflection opportunities. Finally the video analysis by the Deaf practitioner, without reflection with the researcher, will be repeated to give a second 'assessment' of the Deaf practitioner's skills and knowledge. The Deaf practitioner will be asked to give feedback on this process, identifying helpful strategies discussed, issues with the process and information they feel would be useful to other Deaf practitioners completing similar work with young people. Deaf practitioners will work with deaf young people who are currently on their clinical caseload and have previously been identified as having language difficulties. These young people and their families will be informed about the project and, if they consent to participate, will participate in the six sessions led by the Deaf practitioner.
The information gained from this process will identify useful strategies and resources. Validation will be sought by comparing evidence based language therapy strategies and resources from spoken English with those identified by Deaf practitioners in Phase 1 and those found to be useful by Deaf practitioners in Phase 2. These will be used to develop a training package containing strategies, resources and guiding principles for Deaf practitioners using BSL for language therapy delivery.
In phase 3, single case studies will be undertaken. These will include training other Deaf practitioners to use strategies and resources with Deaf young people. Qualitative information from Deaf practitioners and young people, as well as quantitative information from pre and post intervention language assessments and sample video clips, will be analysed to ascertain whether the training in strategies and resources enables Deaf practitioners to use identified intervention strategies and develop the language skills of Deaf young people. The qualitative data will be gathered through the use of reflective logs and questionnaires. The quantitative data will be gathered through the use of structured language assessment activities. Young people and their parents will also provide qualitative information about the process through questionnaires or interviews, depending on their communication mode (English, another spoken language or BSL) and their preference.
Study design
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Language therapy in BSL | Experimental | Other: Language TherapyWorking with Deaf practitioners to provide language activities in British Sign Language aimed at developing children's language skills. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 8 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- National Deaf Child and AdolescentDeaf practitioners will be eligible to participate and only volunteers will be included that have manager's approval, are working with a young person who meets the inclusion criteria;
- Aged 8-15yrs
- Capacity to consent to participation in activities
- Language difficulties in BSL identified in their care plan
- Consent from carers/parents
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Young people with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, severe mental illness of risk factors that would make intervention unsafe.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Language Therapy | Other | Language therapy in BSL |
Primary outcome
Qualitative questionnaire measure of Deaf participants views.
Time frame: Up to ten months
Deaf practitioners will provide their views on how training and supervision for intervention activities has impacted on their skills and understanding.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 May 2016.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Language Therapy in people with Language Difficulties in British Sign Language, run by University College, London.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 May 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Qualitative questionnaire measure of Deaf participants views. (time frame: Up to ten months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 May 2016.