Early Language Intervention via the Internet

描述(由申请人提供)：该提案请求SBIR第二阶段支持，以完成并现场测试一个基于互联网的语言干预系统，该系统旨在促进学龄前语言障碍儿童的语言发展。语言迟缓在学龄儿童中普遍存在。早期干预是至关重要的，因为语言延迟的后果可能是严重的和累积的。然而，研究表明，大多数语言发育迟缓的儿童在学龄前阶段从未接受过语言干预服务。我们建议完成一个基于互联网的早期语言干预系统，专门针对语言功能在24-42个月的3-5岁儿童的语言障碍进行补救。课程设计将以当代语言学研究为指导。干预课程的在线交付将是个性化的，并由跟踪成绩和调整教学支持的人工智能系统控制。通过将通过互联网的便捷访问与集中的数据收集和课程控制相结合，将有可能实施和轻松管理协调的学校和家庭语言干预战略，并向更多儿童提供服务，而不会进一步加重有限的专业资源的负担。在第一阶段，我们测试了这一目标的可行性和技术优势。开发了一个原型程序模块，并对23名参加早期基本教育计划的学生进行了测试，其中包括19名语言迟缓的学龄前儿童。数据是在对其中六名儿童进行测试时通过互联网收集的。在第二阶段，我们计划全面开发和实地测试这个基于互联网的语言干预系统。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests SBIR Phase II support to complete and field test an Internet-based language intervention system designed to promote language development in preschool children with language disorders. Language delays are pervasive among school-age children. Early intervention is crucial since the consequences of language delay can be serious and cumulative. Yet research shows that most children with language delays never receive language intervention services during their preschool years. We propose to complete an Internet-based early language intervention system designed specifically for the remediation of language disorders in 3-5 year old children with language function in the range of 24-42 months. The curricular design will be guided by contemporary linguistic research. Online delivery of the intervention curriculum will be individualized and controlled by an artificial intelligence system that tracks performance and adjusts instructional support. By combining easy access via the Internet with centralized data collection and curricular control, it will become possible to implement and easily manage coordinated school and home language intervention strategies, and to provide services to more children without further taxing limited professional resources. In Phase I we tested the feasibility and technical merit of this objective. A prototype program module was developed and tested with 23 students who were enrolled in an Early Essential Education program, including 19 preschoolers with language delays. Data were collected over the Internet while testing six of these children. In Phase II we plan to fully develop and field-test this Internet-based language intervention system.