The goal of this clinical trial is to test a phonics-based literacy program for children with limited or no speech who use augmentative and alternative communication. More specifically, this study aims to: 1. Understand if using a literacy app (Accessible Literacy Learning) created to support individuals with limited or no speech, with instruction provided by a service provider, will increase their literacy skills 2. Understand how many trials/how much time it takes to acquire each of the 6 early literacy skill assessed 3. Understand if service providers think the Accessible Literacy Learning app is appropriate for this population that needs many literacy adaptions due to challenges with speech. 4. Understand if any characteristics lead to more learning of the skills, for example, diagnosis or age Participants will be asked to complete 100 lessons using the app. The lessons will be phonics-based for the intervention group. The comparison group with use the same app and complete 100 lessons, but will only complete lessons in sight word (no phonics).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
50
The Accessible Literacy Learning (ALL) App is available in the app store and created by TobiiDynavox (an AAC device company). The ALL app is evidence informed and includes pre-made lessons in early phonics/phonological skills including: letter-sounds, sound blending, decoding, phoneme segmentation, sight words, and encoding. The materials made in the app are adapted and created for children with minimal or no speech.
The Accessible Literacy Learning (ALL) App is available in the app store and created by TobiiDynavox (an AAC device company). The ALL app is evidence informed and includes pre-made lessons in early phonics/phonological skills including: letter-sounds, sound blending, decoding, phoneme segmentation, sight words, and encoding. The materials made in the app are adapted and created for children with minimal or no speech. This group will only use the sight word lessons, as well as the library for sight word books. No phonics instruction will be provided through the app.
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, Pennsylvania, United States
Change from Baseline Scores on the Early Literacy Assessment
We will examine the impact of literacy lessons delivered with the ALL technology on the change in scores on the Early Literacy Assessment (ELA) -specifically change in scores in the areas of letter-sounds, sound blending, phoneme segmentation, decoding, irregular sight words, and encoding.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 8 months
Data from the Feasibility Adoption Acceptability Questionnaire (FAAQ)
To measure the perceptions of implementation variables the Feasibility Adoption Acceptability Questionnaire (FAAQ) will be completed at six timepoints throughout the study. Likert-scale questions (Scale of 1-5) across 10 questions, as well as 2 open responses.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 8 months
Treatment and Acceptability Rating Form - Revised
Pre-post interviews using the Treatment and Acceptability Rating Form-Revised (TARF-R) \[20\] will examine which components of the ALL technology are perceived as helpful or hindering to progress as well as factors that may support high implementation fidelity.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 8 months
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