# Technology-assisted language intervention for children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (TALI)

> **NIH NIH R01** · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR · 2022 · $610,031

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Upon diagnosis of hearing loss, parents/caregivers of children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (DHH) make
decisions around numerous approaches to language and communication development. Despite strong efforts
to improve long-term outcomes, DHH children continue to fall short of age-appropriate language levels, placing
them at risk for reduced academic achievement, behavioral problems, and poor social abilities that persist into
adulthood. The lack of research supporting innovative intervention strategies leaves a gaping hole in our
ability to fully support DHH children. Thus, we are unable to provide families with the quality information
regarding intervention options. Evidence supports augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for
enhancing language development, yet technology-based AAC has not been applied or effectively studied in
DHH children. To address the substantial and pervasive language deficits among DHH children that have
persisted despite advances in amplification technology and early identification, we designed a technology-assisted language intervention (TALI) that incorporates high-tech AAC into speech-language therapy as a
language teaching tool specifically adapted for DHH children. Our central hypothesis is that DHH children who
participate in the TALI will have greater gains in spoken language outcomes compared to DHH children who
receive treatment-as-usual (TAU) speech-language therapy. In a small randomized trial to test the
effectiveness of the TALI, our preliminary data show that the TALI significantly improves spoken language
outcomes for DHH children and is more effective than TAU. However, there remains a need to (a) provide
evidence for reproducibility and generalizability in a larger population and (b) understand the TALI
effectiveness on additional language outcome measures. We propose a randomized controlled trial of 114
DHH children at 2 recruitment sites (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of
Colorado). Children will be randomized to either receive 24 weeks of the TALI or 24 weeks TAU therapy. We
will expand our current work to include additional language outcomes, creating a more complete picture of the
effectiveness of the proposed intervention. We will test our central hypothesis through the following specific
aims: (1) Compare spoken (expressive) language outcomes in DHH children and participating in the TALI with
those participating in TAU therapy; (2) Compare language outcomes measured on standardized assessments
between children who are DHH participating in the TALI with those participating in TAU; (3) Evaluate whether
the benefits of the TALI on language outcomes is maintained 6 months post-intervention. Primary outcomes
include syntax, semantics and discourse collected from language samples measured every 6 weeks and
receptive/expressive standardized language scores measured pre and post intervention. AAC use will be
monitored to measure adherence to ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10401296
- **Project number:** 5R01DC018550-03
- **Recipient organization:** CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jareen Meinzen-Derr
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $610,031
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-20 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10401296

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10401296, Technology-assisted language intervention for children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (TALI) (5R01DC018550-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10401296. Licensed CC0.

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