A Safari Amongst Language Research NSW EBPN: Paediatric Language Group Clinical Network Leader: Brooke Funnell Liverpool Health Service

The Crew  Auburn CHC  Chatswood CHC  Dubbo CHC  Forster CHC  Hills CHC  Hillview CHC  Lismore CHC  Liverpool CHC  Macarthur Health Service  Mt Druitt CHC  NEXUS (John Hunter)  Queenscliffe CHC  SCH  Uni of Sydney

Where Did We Come From?  Difficulties with clinical questions and searches  Dearth of positive useful data  Multiple baseline designs  Topics covered included phonological awareness, models of service delivery, long term effects of language disorder, language therapy techniques, parent training  On the path to a CAT

Where Are We??  Our CATs to date  What is the most Effective form of treatment for 4 year olds?…  Word Finding Difficulty…  EI SDM – Parent Training vs Clinician Led  Rx vs No Rx

Lost in the NH&MRC  How can we achieve NH&MRC 1?  What makes a “pseudorandomised” control trial in language?

A Good Trek  Vasilyeva, M., Huttenlocher, J., & Waterfall, H. (2006). Effects of language intervention on syntactic levels in preschoolers. Developmental Psychology, 42(1),  Level II  Current research  Still lots of questions (weaknesses) arose from it.  Study didn’t determine if the participants had any underlying language, development, or emotional/behavioural difficulties  Poor comprehension task – not statistically strong data

A Good Trek  Hodge, T. & Downie, J. (2004). Together we are heard: Effectiveness of daily ‘language’ groups in a community preschool. Nursing and Health Sciences, 6,  Level IV  Weak research but clinically good  Australian  The program wasn’t referenced, extraneous variables weren’t controlled for & there was no control group – why not? Multiple baseline design??

A Poor Trek  Telleen, S., Wren, C. (1985). Acquisition of prepositions in language delayed preschoolers: is intervention effective? British Journal of Disorders of Communication, 20, pg  No strengths!  Couldn’t give it an evidence rating!!!  No control groups or randomisation  No statistical analysis  Poor description of procedure – testing, therapy, criterion  Poor description of subjects: reason for cognitive delay and there was a huge range  Poor inclusion/exclusion criteria - No information regarding other services the children were receiving i.e. SP

Our Challenges  Lack of good research  Where are the randomised control trials??  Clinical Questions  Need to be specific  Lots to cover  Slow progress – is it more effective?

Where Are We Heading?  General comprehension  Auditory Processing Disorders  Looking at the evidence for specific therapy programs – ‘Blades’ and ‘Prompt’  School language / Curriculum Based Learning

Thank You Come and join us next year. Contact me on (02) or Our meetings are the 3 rd Tuesday of February, May, August, & November 2.30 – 4.30