Clinical research study: Early Communication Intervention

Is it ever ‘too early’ to provide communications intervention for young children? A team of researchers from Cerebral Palsy Alliance are conducting the first-ever clinical trial of communications therapy for infants at risk of cerebral palsy to answer this question.

By participating in this study, parents will receive parent-infant communication training and a greater understanding of their child’s communication skills. It also allows them to be involved in research which may guide communication intervention for infants with cerebral palsy in the future.

Who is eligible to participate?

Your child may be eligible to take part in this trial if they are:

• Under 12 months of age (corrected for prematurity);
• Have cerebral palsy (CP) or are at high risk of CP, and;
• Live in Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle Hunter and Wollongong regions.

Some children may not be eligible for this study, despite meeting the above criteria. Please contact us on the details below to discuss whether your child may be eligible for this study, or other research studies.

Participation in this study involves:

• Communications assessments, and;
• Communication intervention following the ‘It Takes Two to Talk® – The Hanan Program®’, including;
  • 8 x small group parent training sessions (either centre-based or online)
  • 4 x individual home visits with you and your child.

You and your child will be randomly allocated to either receive the ‘It Takes Two to Talk’ intervention either before your child is 12 months old, or after your child is 2 years old.

Everyone can still participate in regular speech pathology intervention throughout the study period.

What are parents saying about ‘It Takes Two to Talk’?

“It is a big commitment in terms of time, but soon becomes part of your life. You don’t sit down and ‘do Hanen’, you incorporate it into everyday life. It changed everything.” 

“The ‘It Takes Two to Talk’ program has given life a whole new meaning – it’s brighter, happier, less confusing and frustrating. We have learned new and wonderful ways to communication with our daughter, and she with us.” 

To download a flyer with information about this study, click HERE

For more information about this study, please contact:

• Dr Ashleigh Hines
  Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Cerebral Palsy Alliance
  M: 0497 674 471
  E: ahines@cerebralpalsy.org.au
• Dr Cathy Morgan
  Theme Leader, Early Detection & Intervention, Cerebral Palsy Alliance
  M: 0408 205 542
  E: cmorgan@cerebralpalsy.org.au

Expressions of interest are OPEN.