NCT06951516 How Simplified Language Affects Comprehension and Learning in Young Children With Down Syndrome
| NCT ID | NCT06951516 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Michigan State University |
| Condition | Down Syndrome |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 30 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-01-01 |
| Primary Completion | 2027-05-31 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 30 participants in total. It began in 2025-01-01 with a primary completion date of 2027-05-31.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The long-term study goal is to experimentally evaluate the components (and likely active ingredients) of early language interventions for young children with Down syndrome (DS). The overall objective is to determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects real-time language processing and word learning in young children with DS (relative to full, grammatical utterances). The proposed project will investigate three specific aims: 1) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects language processing. 2) Determine how single-word and telegraphic simplification affects word learning. 3) Evaluate child characteristics that may moderate the effects of linguistic simplification on language processing and word learning. Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that children with DS will process grammatical utterances faster and more accurately than telegraphic or single-word utterances. Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that overall, children will demonstrate better word learning in the grammatical compared to the single-word and telegraphic conditions. Aim 3 will test the hypothesis that receptive language and nonverbal cognitive abilities will be significant moderators, such that children with stronger linguistic and cognitive skills will show the greatest benefit from grammatical input but children with lower linguistic and cognitive scores will perform similarly across conditions.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Down syndrome English as primary language 2-7 years old Exclusion Criteria: * Acquired brain injury Cerebral palsy Uncorrected vision or hearing impairment
Contact & Investigator
Courtney Venker, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Michigan State University
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06951516 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 2 Years or older, up to 7 Years, studying Down Syndrome. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06951516 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06951516 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at cvenker@msu.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06951516 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at East Lansing, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06951516 clinical trial?
NCT06951516 is sponsored by Michigan State University. The principal investigator is Courtney Venker, PhD at Michigan State University. The trial plans to enroll 30 participants.