Description

Children will receive a speech and language assessment and we will tell parents what we have learned about their child's speech and language skills. Children will participate in standardized language assessments, videotaped play-based conversations, and storytelling. This is a study of complex language development in children with language impairments and children with typical language skills. We are interested in how children express multiple ideas within one sentence (e.g., I think he likes cookies, Mary went home because the party was over).

We will document your child's language skills over 12 months. Visits can take place at our playroom at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center or the child’s home. For the initial visit, we will meet with your child on two separate days. Each session will take about 1½ to 2 hours. At the two follow up visits, 6 months later and 12 months later, we will meet with your child for one session (about 1 ½ hours). Your child will be paid $25.00 per session. Visit 1 (Time 1) is two sessions (totaling $50.00). For each follow up visit there will be one session (Times 2 and 3); your child will receive $25.00 for each of these two sessions. [Total $100.00] In addition, your child will receive a children's book after each session.

Children with typical language skills are invited to participate as well as children with language delay or language impairment. The language delay or impairment may not be a result of mental retardation or autism.

Participant Criteria

• Children with language impairments or delays from 4 ½ to 5 ½ years of age.
• Typically developing children from 3 to 5 ½ years of age.

Compensation

Your child will be paid $25.00 per session.

Visit Requirements

4 visits over 12 months.

Brochure

Download Brochure

Contact Information

Melanie Schuele
615-936-5256
melanie.schuele@vanderbilt.edu