Cerebral Palsy — Efficacy of AAC for Functional Communication
Citation(s)
Elsahar Y, Hu S, Bouazza-Marouf K, Kerr D, Mansor A Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Advances: A Review of Configurations for Individuals with a Speech Disability. Sensors (Basel). 2019 Apr 22;19(8). pii: E1911. doi: 10.3390/s19081911. Review.
Lorah ER, Tincani M, Parnell A Current trends in the use of handheld technology as a speech-generating device for children with autism. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice. 2018 Aug;18(3):317.
Nam S, Kim J, Sparks S An Overview of Review Studies on Effectiveness of Major AAC Systems for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Including Autism. Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship. 2018 Jun;7(2):n2.
Schlosser RW, Wendt O Effects of augmentative and alternative communication intervention on speech production in children with autism: a systematic review. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2008 Aug;17(3):212-30. doi: 10.1044/1058-0360(2008/021). Review.
Stasolla F, De Pace C, Damiani R, Di Leone A, Albano V, Perilli V Comparing PECS and VOCA to promote communication opportunities and to reduce stereotyped behaviors by three girls with Rett syndrome. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2014 Oct 1;8(10):1269-78.
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.