Predictors And Correlates Of Developmental Language Problems: A Longitudinal Study From Infancy To Pre-school Age
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$537,750.00
Summary
Language impairment is a disabling condition, thought to affect between 7% and 15% of 4 year old children. It has serious and lasting implications for social and emotional development, cognition, behaviour and literacy. A link has been demonstrated between language impairment and later psychiatric disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Given the potential of enhancing the language development of young children, it is critical that effective prevention and early intervention programs are availab ....Language impairment is a disabling condition, thought to affect between 7% and 15% of 4 year old children. It has serious and lasting implications for social and emotional development, cognition, behaviour and literacy. A link has been demonstrated between language impairment and later psychiatric disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Given the potential of enhancing the language development of young children, it is critical that effective prevention and early intervention programs are available. However, current knowledge is liminted in that there are no entirely satisfactory methods for detecting children who at much younger ages, 8 months, 12 months, 2 years and 3 years, are at risk of later impairment. In this study we aim to: examine the risk factors (many are thought to exist) that contribute to language impairment learn more about the natural history of this disabling disorder in children between 8 months and 4 years of age Ultimately, we aim to identify early signs that might warn health professionals and parents of language impairment so that such problems can be detected much earlier. Early identification will mean that help is available at an earlier age to children who currently go on to have persisting and extremely disabling language impairment.Read moreRead less
Understanding How Language And Reading Problems Develop: A Population-based Longitudinal Study From Infancy To Age 7
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$667,507.00
Summary
Early language and reading problems are common and therefore significant public health problems. They are disabling and have life-long implications for oral and written communication skills, social and emotional well-being, cognition, behaviour, academic achievement and employment. This study will address the following three problems: 1. To date no study has documented how language and reading problems develop from infancy (8 months) through to school age (7 years). 2. Little is known about risk ....Early language and reading problems are common and therefore significant public health problems. They are disabling and have life-long implications for oral and written communication skills, social and emotional well-being, cognition, behaviour, academic achievement and employment. This study will address the following three problems: 1. To date no study has documented how language and reading problems develop from infancy (8 months) through to school age (7 years). 2. Little is known about risk factors, identified early in infancy and childhood, that can be reliably used to predict language and reading problems later in childhood. 3. The relationships between language difficulties and reading problems are poorly understood. Therefore, we currently have no satisfactory methods for reliably detecting which children at much younger ages are at risk of later language disorders or reading problems. Without this information it is impossible to develop effective prevention and early intervention programs. These programs are critical if we are to: a) Prevent language and reading problems from occurring, thereby reducing the prevalence of the problem b) Intervene early in childhood, thereby reducing in the longer term the burden and cost associated with language and reading problems. The proposed study builds on an existing substantial investment by the NHMRC in the Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS). It will provide a world-first description of the evolution of language difficulties and reading problems from infancy through to school age within a single population cohort.Read moreRead less
Clinical Genetics Studies Of Speech And Language Disorders In Large Families.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,368.00
Summary
Childhood speech and language disorders are common and may have negative long term outcomes. We have a limited understanding of what causes these disorders, which impacts our ability to manage and treat those affected. This project will utilise large families to investigate causes and clinical features of speech and language disorders. This is an exciting and relatively under-research area, and has the potential to lead to improved outcomes for children affected with speech and language disorder ....Childhood speech and language disorders are common and may have negative long term outcomes. We have a limited understanding of what causes these disorders, which impacts our ability to manage and treat those affected. This project will utilise large families to investigate causes and clinical features of speech and language disorders. This is an exciting and relatively under-research area, and has the potential to lead to improved outcomes for children affected with speech and language disorder.Read moreRead less
Neural Mechanisms Of Language Facilitation In Aphasia Due To Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$523,192.00
Summary
This project will assess the underlying neural mechanisms by which neurostimulation improves impaired language functions after stroke (aphasia). This will be accomplished by using a novel combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging and simultaneous transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) administered to different brain regions. These studies will provide crucial information necessary to optimise future clinical trials that combine tDCS with language therapy.
Implementation Of Comprehensive High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,065,665.00
Summary
Aphasia is a communication disability that occurs in up to 30% of stroke survivors. Most people with aphasia do not currently receive the amount and type of treatment they need. The aim of this research is to evaluate the implementation of this comprehensive high dose aphasia treatment in clinical settings. Implementation will occur through partnerships with service providers, consumer organisations and clinical networks. This work will provide a new way to manage aphasia and improve lives.
Centre For Research Excellence In Speech And Language Neurobiology (CRE-SLANG)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,491,340.00
Summary
Half a million Australian children have a speech/language disorder, tripling their changes of poor academic outcomes, limited employment options and social isolation. Current speech therapy is limited, focusing on symptoms and ignoring evidence on underlying aetiologies. By identifying and translating findings on new genes and brain pathways leading to speech and language disorders, we will transform detection, diagnosis, prognosis and genetic counselling of affected children and their families.
Aphasia is a devastating language and communication disorder that occurs in up to 40% of all stroke patients and often results in lifelong disability. This project will determine whether individuals who listen to music daily in addition to receiving usual care, show a better recovery of language than those who only receive usual care. The effect of music listening on cognition, depression, and brain structure and function will be investigated to identify how music stimulates language recovery.
Centre For Research Excellence In Childhood Language
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,485,324.00
Summary
Although most children acquire speech and language skills comparatively effortlessly, it has become increasingly apparent that many do not. More importantly, this sizeable group accounts for great subsequent population health, social and economic burden. Research in the field has been underfunded and fragmented, resulting in evidence gaps, limited capacity, and disparate guidance for policy-makers. We will address these issues, acting as a vehicle and an ongoing catalyst for internationally-comp ....Although most children acquire speech and language skills comparatively effortlessly, it has become increasingly apparent that many do not. More importantly, this sizeable group accounts for great subsequent population health, social and economic burden. Research in the field has been underfunded and fragmented, resulting in evidence gaps, limited capacity, and disparate guidance for policy-makers. We will address these issues, acting as a vehicle and an ongoing catalyst for internationally-competitive research.Read moreRead less
Improving Treatment Outcomes For Children With Autism: Translating Intensive 1:1 Treatment Into A Group-Based Community Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,669.00
Summary
Current best-practice treatment guidelines for children with Autism state that each child should receive a minimum of 20 hours of Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention per week. However, this is not possible due to the enormous cost and time pressure involved and the lack of trained specialists in Australia and overseas. To address this problem, I will examine the effectiveness of translating an evidence-based individualised treatment program into a lower-cost, but equally effective, group-ba ....Current best-practice treatment guidelines for children with Autism state that each child should receive a minimum of 20 hours of Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention per week. However, this is not possible due to the enormous cost and time pressure involved and the lack of trained specialists in Australia and overseas. To address this problem, I will examine the effectiveness of translating an evidence-based individualised treatment program into a lower-cost, but equally effective, group-based community model.Read moreRead less