%X Purpose: We developed and evaluated in a randomised controlled trial a computerised speechreading training programme to determine a) whether it is possible to train
speechreading in deaf children and b) whether speechreading training results in improvements in phonological and reading skills. Previous studies indicate a relationship between speechreading and reading skill and further suggest this relationship may be
mediated by improved phonological representations. This is important since many deaf children find learning to read to be very challenging.
Method: Sixty-six deaf 5-7 year olds were randomised into speechreading and maths
training arms. Each training programme was comprised of 10 minute sessions a day, 4 days
a week for 12 weeks. Children were assessed on a battery of language and literacy measures
before training, immediately after training, 3 months and 10 months after training.
Results: We found no significant benefits for participants who completed the speechreading training, compared to those who completed the maths training, on the speechreading primary outcome measure. However, significantly greater gains were observed in the
speechreading training group on one of the secondary measures of speechreading. There was also some evidence of beneficial effects of the speechreading training on phonological representations, however these effects were weaker. No benefits were seen to word reading.
Conclusions: Speechreading skill is trainable in deaf children. However, to support early reading, training may need to be longer or embedded in a broader literacy programme. RCT of speechreading training in deaf children
Nevertheless, a training tool that can improve speechreading is likely to be of great interest to professionals working with deaf children.
%I American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
%L discovery10074704
%J Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
%A M MacSweeney
%A H Pimperton
%A F Kyle
%A C Hulme
%A M Harris
%A I Beedie
%A A Ralph-Lewis
%A E Worster
%A R Rees
%A C Donlan
%O This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images
or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license,
unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license,
users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this
license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
%V 62
%P 2882-2894
%D 2019
%N 8
%T Computerised speechreading training for deaf children: A randomised controlled trial