Influence of a therapy break in children of phonological delayed disorders at the age of 5 - 6 years (ETKA) - A randomized controlled trial

Early detection of language development disorders and a timely delivery of appropriate measures derived therefrom can prevent the secondary consequences of language learning disorders. In particular, phonologically delayed disorders, can have an impact on the development of literacy and placing the child at risk for dyslexia. Due to the high demand for speech therapy, however, many children wait up to 4 months before therapy can be started.

In the effectiveness research of children’s speech therapy, there is still disagreement on the areas of therapy intensity and duration of intervention. That implies the following uncertainties: How intense the therapy must be or which therapy intervals should be chosen to achieve the goal of transferring the learned into the spontaneous language?

The aim of the planned study is to show that children with a delayed phonological development at the age of 5 to 6, after reaching a certain threshold, can transfer the learned to the spontaneous language through a therapy break of 12 weeks without negative consequences for language acquisition.

If the study can show this, it would be possible to use speech therapy resources more effectively in the future, which would enable more children to be treated at the same quality level without additional costs.

• Partners: Barbara Kraxberger (Head of the Department of Speech Therapy of Caritas for Children and Adolescents), Martina Bernegger (Head of Logopedic Service of the Volkshilfe GSD)