Researchers at Seattle Children's Hospital are studying whether shared reading at home can help young children with a cleft palate develop their language skills. There is currently very little research in this area, and your family's participation could help shape future support for children with clefts.
If you're interested in taking part, click below to fill out a short intake form.
Who can take part?
You may be eligible if:
Your child is between 20 and 32 months old at the time of enrolment
Your child has been diagnosed with a cleft palate (with or without a cleft lip)
Your child has had palate repair surgery
Everything takes place from home — there are no clinic visits required.
Here's what to expect:
To start
Answer a few questions about your family and record two short videos on your smartphone — one of your child naming pictures, and one of you reading together
Group assignment
You'll be randomly assigned to one of two groups:
Shared Reading + Support: Receive free children's books to read at home, plus 3 Zoom sessions (around 1 hour each) with guidance on how to use book-sharing to support your child's language development
Shared Reading: Receive free children's books to read at home
During the study
Both groups record 4 short weekly reading videos (one per book) and complete a 1-minute daily check-in survey
At the end
All children receive a language assessment, and you'll receive a summary of the results
Compensation
As a thank you for your time, you could receive:
$40 for each smartphone video uploaded
$150 for completing the final language assessment
5 free children's books to keep
