ERIC Number: EJ1151283
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Jul
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: N/A
Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Intervention Delivered by Educators for Children with Speech Sound Disorders
McLeod, Sharynne; Baker, Elise; McCormack, Jane; Wren, Yvonne; Roulstone, Sue; Crowe, Kathryn; Masso, Sarah; White, Paul; Howland, Charlotte
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v60 n7 p1891-1910 Jul 2017
Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of computer-assisted input-based intervention for children with speech sound disorders (SSD). Method: The Sound Start Study was a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Seventy-nine early childhood centers were invited to participate, 45 were recruited, and 1,205 parents and educators of 4- and 5-year-old children returned questionnaires. Children whose parents and educators had concerns about speech were assessed (n = 275); 132 children who were identified with phonological pattern-based errors underwent additional assessment. Children with SSD and no difficulties with receptive language or hearing, typical nonverbal intelligence, and English as their primary language were eligible; 123 were randomized into two groups (intervention n = 65; control n = 58), and 3 withdrew. The intervention group involved Phoneme Factory Sound Sorter software (Wren & Roulstone, 2013) administered by educators over 9 weeks; the control group involved typical classroom practices. Participants were reassessed twice by a speech-language pathologist who was unaware of the initial assessment and intervention conditions. Results: For the primary outcome variable (percentage of consonants correct), the significant mean change from pre- to postintervention for the intervention group (mean change = +6.15, p < .001) was comparable in magnitude to the significant change for the control group (mean change = +5.43, p < 0.001) with a small between-groups effect size for change (Cohen's d = 0.08). Similar results occurred for measures of emergent literacy, phonological processing, participation, and well-being. Conclusion: Computer-assisted input-based intervention administered by educators did not result in greater improvement than typical classroom practices.
Descriptors: Randomized Controlled Trials, Program Effectiveness, Computer Assisted Instruction, Intervention, Speech Impairments, Preschool Children, Questionnaires, Early Childhood Education, Phonology, Phonemes, Computer Software, Teaching Methods, Speech Language Pathology, Comparative Analysis, Educational Technology, Pretests Posttests, Effect Size
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A