A Safari Amongst Language Research NSW EBPN Paediatric

A Safari Amongst Language Research NSW EBPN: Paediatric Language Group Clinical Network Leader: Brooke Funnell Liverpool Health Service 9828 4776

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

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

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

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

A Good Trek v Vasilyeva, M. , Huttenlocher, J. , & Waterfall, H. (2006). Effects of language intervention on syntactic levels in preschoolers. Developmental Psychology, 42(1), 164 -174. v Level II v Current research v Still lots of questions (weaknesses) arose from it. v. Study didn’t determine if the participants had any underlying language, development, or emotional/behavioural difficulties v. Poor comprehension task – not statistically strong data

A Good Trek v Hodge, T. & Downie, J. (2004). Together we are heard: Effectiveness of daily ‘language’ groups in a community preschool. Nursing and Health Sciences, 6, 101 -107. v Level IV v Weak research but clinically good v Australian v The program wasn’t referenced, extraneous variables weren’t controlled for & there was no control group – why not? Multiple baseline design? ?

v Telleen, A Poor Trek S. , Wren, C. (1985). Acquisition of prepositions in language delayed preschoolers: is intervention effective? British Journal of Disorders of Communication, 20, pg 301 -309 No strengths! v Couldn’t give it an evidence rating!!! v No control groups or randomisation v No statistical analysis v Poor description of procedure – testing, therapy, criterion v Poor description of subjects: reason for cognitive delay and there was a huge range v Poor inclusion/exclusion criteria - No information regarding other services the children were receiving i. e. SP v

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

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

Thank You Come and join us next year. Contact me on (02) 9828 4776 or Brooke. Funnell@sswahs. nsw. gov. au Our meetings are the 3 rd Tuesday of February, May, August, & November 2. 30 – 4. 30