Effects of Parent-Implemented Intervention for Thai Children with Language Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose : Many studies have reported the effect of parent-implemented interventions in the treatment of language impairment (LI). This study aimed to compare the effects of parent-implemented enhanced milieu teaching (EMT) using the Teach-Model-Coach-Review (TMCR) model with general language stimulation on language skills and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Thai children with LI. Methods : This study was a single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT). Sixty Thai children with LI were randomly assigned to one of two interventions: parent-implemented EMT using the TMCR model or general language stimulation. Results : A total of 57 participants were included in the analyses. After two months of intervention, there were no significant differences on combined language quotients (CLQ; p = 0.24) and total HRQOL summary score (p = 0.75), between the children in the intervention and control groups. Compared with the control group, children in the intervention group had higher language scores at two months. Conclusions : Parent-implemented EMT using the TMCR model is not significantly better than general language stimulation. The two groups of children gained in language skills and in HRQOL. However, children in the intervention group had higher language scores at two months; hence, parent-implemented intervention may be regarded as one of the effective language interventions for children with LI, including SLI and GDD, and their parents in the Thai context.