Language Intervention in the Early Years Randomised Controlled Trial

Children’s language abilities set the stage for their education, psychosocial development and life chances across the life course. This study compares the efficacy of two preschool language interventions delivered with low dosages in Early Years Settings (EYS): Building Early Sentences Therapy (BEST) and an Adapted Derbyshire Language Scheme (A-DLS). The former is informed by usage-based linguistic theory, and the latter by typical language developmental patterns. We conducted a preregistered cluster randomised controlled trial in 20 EYSs randomised to receive BEST or A-DLS (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10974028). Children aged 3;05–4;05, who were monolingual, with comprehension and/or production scores ≤16th centile (New Reynell Developmental Language Scales (NRDLS) and no sensorineural hearing impairment, severe visual impairment or learning disability were eligible. 102 children received the intervention. Speech and Language Therapists delivered interventions with high fidelity in 15-minute group sessions twice weekly for eight weeks. Baseline (T1), outcome (T2), and follow-up (T3) measures were completed blind to intervention arm. Outcomes were NRDLS comprehension and production standard scores (SS), and measures of language structures targeted in the interventions and communicative participation (FOCUS-34).For more information see https://research.ncl.ac.uk/lively

儿童的语言能力为其终身的教育、社会心理发展以及人生机遇奠定基础。本研究对比了两种在早年教育环境（Early Years Settings, EYS）中以低剂量实施的学前语言干预方案的效果：早期句子构建疗法（Building Early Sentences Therapy, BEST）与改良德比郡语言方案（Adapted Derbyshire Language Scheme, A-DLS）。前者基于使用导向的语言学理论，后者则遵循典型语言发展模式。本研究在20个被随机分配接受BEST或A-DLS干预的早年教育环境中开展了一项预注册整群随机对照试验（试验注册链接：https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10974028）。研究纳入的受试儿童年龄为3岁5个月至4岁5个月，为单语使用者，在新雷诺尔发展语言量表（New Reynell Developmental Language Scales, NRDLS）中的理解与/或表达得分≤第16百分位，且无感觉神经性听力损失、重度视觉障碍或学习障碍。最终共有102名儿童接受了干预。言语语言治疗师以高保真度实施干预，干预形式为每周2次、每次15分钟的小组课程，持续8周。研究在基线（T1）、结局评估（T2）与随访（T3）三个时间点开展评估，评估过程对干预分组设盲。本次研究的结局指标包括NRDLS理解与表达标准分（SS）、干预针对的语言结构相关指标，以及沟通参与度量表（FOCUS-34）得分。欲了解更多信息，请访问：https://research.ncl.ac.uk/lively