Eye-tracking Technology for Severe Communication Disability

IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo30 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this project is to develop an Augmentative and Alternative Communication intervention through the use of Eye tracker system.

The term "complex communication needs" includes all patients who present severe disturbances in speech and language production and/or in comprehension, in relation to oral or written communication modalities. The main purpose of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is to promote the best possible communication for people with complex communication needs, through the use of techniques, methods and tools aimed not at replacing pre-existing communication methods but at increasing skills of natural communication through the enhancement of present skills. The Eye tracker system, thanks to allows the recording and analysis of eye movements, could be used successfully to support communication in patients with severe communication disability. The goal of this study is to develop an efficacy Augmentative and Alternative Communication intervention using eye-tracking technology for patients with severe communication disability. The secondary objective was to examine the psychosocial impact of technology for AAC on parents' perspectives and quality of life.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Communication Disabilities

Interventions

AAC + Eye TrackingBEHAVIORAL

The AAC treatment will be supported by the use of an innovative high-tech tool, such as Eye Tracking. The duration of treatment will be 6 months, with sessions of 45 minutes twice a week.

AACBEHAVIORAL

Treatment involves the use of conventional AAC, with low-tech tools, such as PECS or sign language. The duration of treatment will be six months, twice a week, with sessions of 45 minutes.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 3 YearsMax age: 17 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * aged between 3 and 17 years affected by neuropsychiatric pathology presenting complex communication needs * Control of eye motility and visual fixation * ability to maintain position in front of the monitor * availability of at least one member of the family nucleus to participate in the therapeutic process * cognitive skills appropriate to the task such as being able to recognize images and being able to memorize procedures necessary to use the various basic functions Exclusion Criteria: * age not between 3 and 17 years * difficulty in controlling ocular motility and visual fixation * the unavailability of at least one member of the family nucleus to participate in the therapeutic process * impaired cognitive skills on the task such as being able to recognize pictures and being able to memorize procedures necessary to use various basic functions

Locations (1)

IRCCS Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo

Messina, Italy

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory

The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory is a questionnaire for parents. This is used for the study and evaluation of communication and language in children with typical and atypical development.

Time frame: Month 0

MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory

Time frame: Month 3

MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventory

Time frame: Month 6

Communication Matrix

is an online assessment tool created to help professionals and family members support people with severe communication disorders on their journey to greater self-expression. Total score on an assessment of early expressive communication skills.

Time frame: Month 0

Communication Matrix

Time frame: Month 3

Communication Matrix

Central Contacts

Francesca Cuinotta, MD, PhD

CONTACT

09060128257 francesca.cucinotta@irccsme.it

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Secondary Outcomes

The World Health Organization Quality of Life

The World Health Organization Quality of Life -BREF consists of 26 questions. The World Health Organization Quality of Life -BREF has Likert-type scoring ranging from 1 to 5. As the score obtained from the sub-domains of the scale increases, the quality of life increases.

Time frame: T0 (Baseline) - T1 (3 months) - T2 (6 months)

Parenting Stress Index

Measures parenting stress

Time frame: T0 (Baseline) - T1 (3 months) - T2 (6 months)

Forerunners in Communication - ComFor

Forerunners in Communication assesses the precursors of augmentative communication. It measures the ability to perceive and attribute meanings to forms of communication

Time frame: T0 (Baseline) - T1 (3 months) - T2 (6 months)

Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales II

The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales are a standardized semi-structured interview to measure adaptive behavior, among the most sensitive to change in autism research. Standard scores have a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15.

Time frame: T0 (Baseline) - T1 (3 months) - T2 (6 months)