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Intervention Factors Associated with Efficacy, When Targeting Oral Language Comprehension of Children with or at Risk for (Developmental) Language Disorder: A Meta-Analysis

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Title: Intervention Factors Associated with Efficacy, When Targeting Oral Language Comprehension of Children with or at Risk for (Developmental) Language Disorder: A Meta-Analysis
Language: English
Authors: Sirpa Tarvainen (ORCID 0000-0003-3669-5716), Pauline Frizelle (ORCID 0000-0002-9715-3788), Hanna Granroth-Wilding (ORCID 0000-0002-4052-3821), Suvi Stolt (ORCID 0000-0002-6029-5459), Kaisa Launonen (ORCID 0000-0002-2877-496X)
Source: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2025 60(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Literature Reviews, Meta Analysis, Language Impairments, Communication Disorders, Developmental Disabilities, Intervention, Oral Communication Method, Children, Youth, At Risk Persons, Receptive Language, Expressive Language, Age Differences, Listening Comprehension
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70013
ISSN: 1368-2822
1460-6984
Abstract: Background: Language interventions are complex behavioural interventions, making it difficult to distinguish the specific factors contributing to efficacy. The efficacy of oral language comprehension interventions varies greatly, but the reasons for this have received little attention. Aims: The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine which intervention factors are associated with efficacy (as expressed with effect sizes) regarding interventions aiming to improve oral language comprehension on its own, or together with expressive language, in children under the age of 18 with or at risk for (developmental) language disorder--(D)LD. Whether the interventions for younger and older children differ from one another regarding efficacy or factors possibly associated with efficacy were also examined. Methods & Procedures: Studies (n = 46) were identified through two systematic scoping reviews. Factors associated with efficacy were categorized according to the internal characteristics of the intervention as well as factors external to the intervention. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine the association between these factors and intervention efficacy as represented by effect sizes on oral language comprehension outcome measures. Outcomes & Results: Targeting language, language environment or compensatory strategies indicated efficacy, whereas aiming to improve language processing indicated no clinically significant efficacy. Targeting only receptive language was associated with larger effect sizes than targeting both receptive and expressive language. The interventions for younger (2-7 years) and older (8-13 years) children indicated a similar degree of efficacy, but the way in which these results were achieved varied, as comprehension interventions for younger and older children differed from one another. Many factors associated with effect sizes were also associated with each other making interpretation of the results complex. Conclusions & Implications: These indicative results suggest that it is not reasonable to target language processing, such as auditory processing or automatization, when aiming to improve oral language comprehension. Targeting receptive language only rather than both receptive and expressive language seems preferable to maximize efficacy when aiming to support solely oral language comprehension instead of targeting both expression and comprehension. The qualitative active ingredients of treatment appear to be more important than the number of intervention hours. Although children of different ages can benefit from interventions to enhance oral language comprehension, the child's age needs to be carefully considered to develop interventions that are optimal. Further research with larger data sets regarding factors contributing to efficacy is still needed before applying these results confidently to clinical practice.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://zenodo.org/uploads/14266851
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1463756
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Intervention Factors Associated with Efficacy, When Targeting Oral Language Comprehension of Children with or at Risk for (Developmental) Language Disorder: A Meta-Analysis
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sirpa+Tarvainen%22">Sirpa Tarvainen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3669-5716">0000-0003-3669-5716</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pauline+Frizelle%22">Pauline Frizelle</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9715-3788">0000-0002-9715-3788</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hanna+Granroth-Wilding%22">Hanna Granroth-Wilding</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4052-3821">0000-0002-4052-3821</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Suvi+Stolt%22">Suvi Stolt</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6029-5459">0000-0002-6029-5459</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kaisa+Launonen%22">Kaisa Launonen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2877-496X">0000-0002-2877-496X</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Language+%26+Communication+Disorders%22"><i>International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders</i></searchLink>. 2025 60(2).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 25
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literature+Reviews%22">Literature Reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Meta+Analysis%22">Meta Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Impairments%22">Language Impairments</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication+Disorders%22">Communication Disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developmental+Disabilities%22">Developmental Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oral+Communication+Method%22">Oral Communication Method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Children%22">Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Youth%22">Youth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22At+Risk+Persons%22">At Risk Persons</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Receptive+Language%22">Receptive Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expressive+Language%22">Expressive Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+Differences%22">Age Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Listening+Comprehension%22">Listening Comprehension</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/1460-6984.70013
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1368-2822<br />1460-6984
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Language interventions are complex behavioural interventions, making it difficult to distinguish the specific factors contributing to efficacy. The efficacy of oral language comprehension interventions varies greatly, but the reasons for this have received little attention. Aims: The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine which intervention factors are associated with efficacy (as expressed with effect sizes) regarding interventions aiming to improve oral language comprehension on its own, or together with expressive language, in children under the age of 18 with or at risk for (developmental) language disorder--(D)LD. Whether the interventions for younger and older children differ from one another regarding efficacy or factors possibly associated with efficacy were also examined. Methods & Procedures: Studies (n = 46) were identified through two systematic scoping reviews. Factors associated with efficacy were categorized according to the internal characteristics of the intervention as well as factors external to the intervention. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine the association between these factors and intervention efficacy as represented by effect sizes on oral language comprehension outcome measures. Outcomes & Results: Targeting language, language environment or compensatory strategies indicated efficacy, whereas aiming to improve language processing indicated no clinically significant efficacy. Targeting only receptive language was associated with larger effect sizes than targeting both receptive and expressive language. The interventions for younger (2-7 years) and older (8-13 years) children indicated a similar degree of efficacy, but the way in which these results were achieved varied, as comprehension interventions for younger and older children differed from one another. Many factors associated with effect sizes were also associated with each other making interpretation of the results complex. Conclusions & Implications: These indicative results suggest that it is not reasonable to target language processing, such as auditory processing or automatization, when aiming to improve oral language comprehension. Targeting receptive language only rather than both receptive and expressive language seems preferable to maximize efficacy when aiming to support solely oral language comprehension instead of targeting both expression and comprehension. The qualitative active ingredients of treatment appear to be more important than the number of intervention hours. Although children of different ages can benefit from interventions to enhance oral language comprehension, the child's age needs to be carefully considered to develop interventions that are optimal. Further research with larger data sets regarding factors contributing to efficacy is still needed before applying these results confidently to clinical practice.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: https://zenodo.org/uploads/14266851
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  Data: 2025
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        Value: 10.1111/1460-6984.70013
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 25
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Literature Reviews
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      – SubjectFull: Meta Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Impairments
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      – SubjectFull: Communication Disorders
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      – SubjectFull: Developmental Disabilities
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      – SubjectFull: Intervention
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      – SubjectFull: Oral Communication Method
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      – SubjectFull: Children
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      – SubjectFull: Youth
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      – SubjectFull: At Risk Persons
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      – SubjectFull: Receptive Language
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      – SubjectFull: Expressive Language
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      – SubjectFull: Age Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Listening Comprehension
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Intervention Factors Associated with Efficacy, When Targeting Oral Language Comprehension of Children with or at Risk for (Developmental) Language Disorder: A Meta-Analysis
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