Current Research Projects

Question: How often per week should a child with moderate to severe CAS receive therapy?

Research we are funding: Comparing intensity of speech therapy for CAS – two times per week versus four times per week.

Why we believe this research is important: Parents and therapists often hear that intensive treatment is important for children with CAS, leading to the conclusion that “more is better.” However, that is not always a realistic option for many families.  Parents often find that insurance plans limit the annual number of covered therapy session.  Families usually don’t have unlimited budgets for therapy, and many families make significant sacrifices for their child with CAS to receive speech therapy.  School districts must also justify the amount of therapy children receive.  Yet, there is little guidance to help parents and therapists make decisions about how to utilize resources for therapy other than “intensive treatment is better.”

This study will compare the outcomes of children who receive the same number of therapy sessions (24 hours total) under two different schedules of treatment:  twice per week and four times per week.  Forty (40) children age 2.5 to 7.0 years of age with moderate to severe CAS will be divided into two groups.  One group will receive 60 minute treatment sessions 4 times per week for 6 weeks and the second group will 60 minute treatment sessions two times per week for 12 weeks. In total, both groups will receive the exact same number of therapy minutes, the only difference being the frequency and duration of the treatment schedule.  Both groups will receive Dynamic Tactile and Temporal Cueing (DTTC).  The children’s progress will be assessed immediately after the treatment period ends and again after a few weeks of time to determine the long-lasting effect of treatment under both schedules.

We believe that this study will eventually help parents and therapists make important decisions about how to allocate resources for therapy to children with CAS rather than just following the “more is better” approach.

This research is being conducted by Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Marquette University), Elizabeth Murray, Ph.D., CPSP (University of Sydney, Remarkable Speech + Movement), Maria Grigos, PhD, CCC-SLP (New York University) and Julie Case, PhD, CCC-SLP (Hofstra University), , Shelley Velleman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (University of Vermont) and Donna Thomas, Ph.D. CPSP, FHEO (University of Sydney).

Question: Can at-home practice with parents help children with CAS improve their speech?

Research we are funding: The Effect of Parent/Caregiver Training on Treatment Outcomes in CAS

Why we think this research is important: It is common for therapists to suggest at-home practice for children with CAS.  Often, parents are instructed to practice words that have been mastered in the therapy sessions to help the child use those words functionally at home.  Is sending lists of mastered words home enough?  Could parents be trained to act as “therapist extenders” by providing practice that helps the child master new words faster in therapy?  If so, is it worthwhile for therapists to allocate valuable therapy time to parent/caregiver training even if it lessens direct time the therapist spends with the child?  This study will explore these questions.

This research is being conducted by Maria Grigos, PhD, CCC-SLP (New York University) and Julie Case, PhD, CCC-SLP (Hofstra University).

Question: Is a longer therapy session once per week as effective as three shorter sessions per week?

Research we are funding: Comparing the effectiveness of a single, longer block of therapy (3 hours) compared to standard treatment (3 times per week for 1 hour).

Why we believe this research is important: Parents and caregivers sometimes must travel a long distance to see a therapist with experience treating CAS.  In such situations, visiting a clinic three times per week can be a daunting task.  Long drives to therapy might leave the child fatigued before a session even begins.  Travel expenses might place a hardship on family budgets.  Could making the drive once per week and spending a 3-hour block of time with the therapist result in the same outcome as three one-hour sessions per week?  This small pilot study will explore that model of therapy to determine whether it is an appropriate consideration for families who have circumstances that make attending therapy 3 times per week difficult.

This research is being conducted by Elizabeth Murray, Ph.D., CPSP (University of Sydney, Remarkable Speech + Movement)  and Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Marquette University) with co-investigators Shelley Velleman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (University of Vermont) and Donna Thomas, Ph.D. CPSP, FHEO (University of Sydney).

Question: How does wearing a mask in therapy affect outcomes for children with CAS?

Research we are funding: The Effect of Masking on Therapy Outcomes for Children with CAS using Dynamic Tactile and Temporal Cueing

Why we believe this research is important: Parents and caregivers sometimes must travel a long distance to see a therapist with experience treating CAS.  In such situations, visiting a clinic three times per week can be a daunting task.  Long drives to therapy might leave the child fatigued before a session even begins.  Travel expenses might place a hardship on family budgets.  Could making the drive once per week and spending a 3-hour block of time with the therapist result in the same outcome as three one-hour sessions per week?  This small pilot study will explore that model of therapy to determine whether it is an appropriate consideration for families who have circumstances that make attending therapy 3 times per week difficult.

This research is being conducted by Co-principal investigators Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Marquette University), Elizabeth Murray, Ph.D., CPSP (University of Sydney, Remarkable Speech + Movement), Shelley Velleman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (University of Vermont) and Donna Thomas, Ph.D. CPSP, FHEO (University of Sydney).