Language and communication in children with sagittal synostosis

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Language and communication in children with non-syndromic sagittal synostosis: A sibling control study.

  • IRAS ID

    314605

  • Contact name

    Sarah Kilcoyne

  • Contact email

    sarah.kilcoyne@ouh.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 6 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Sagittal synostosis is when a child’s growing line down the centre of their head closes too early, and changes the shape of their skull. It is difficult to know if sagittal synostosis impacts on language development in children. This is because past studies have looked at language in children that is still emerging (e.g. under the age of five), and have not compared it to another group to see if there is anything particularly different about their language development.
    In this study, we will ask parents to complete a survey about their child’s language development. Parents will be invited to join the study if they have a child with sagittal synostosis, and another child of the same sex without sagittal synostosis with the same biological parents. It is important to study children from the same family because there are too many outside influences that can impact on language development if you were to choose random children from the population. This way, children will have the same family environment and parents, and there will not be other factors that will confuse the results.
    This study will help us to give parents the best information about what to expect for their child’s language development if they have a child with sagittal synostosis. After the study is completed if definite results are available, we can immediately use this information in our clinics when talking with families.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    23/WM/0181

  • Date of REC Opinion

    2 Aug 2023

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion