Labelling, Defining and Classifying the Active Ingredients in Oral Language Interventions for Children With or at...

Area of Science:

• Speech and Language Therapy
• Child Language Acquisition
• Clinical Intervention Research

Background:

• Effective child language interventions for (Developmental) Language Disorder ((D)LD) are increasingly studied.
• Under-specified reporting of intervention active ingredients impedes translation of evidence into practice.
• This systematic review addresses inconsistencies in defining and labelling therapy components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify, summarize, and synthesize the labeling, definition, description, and classification of active ingredients in oral language interventions for children with or at risk for (D)LD.
• To analyze how these components are presented in empirical and clinical literature.

Main Methods:

• A registered systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID CRD42024541407).
• Searches across seven electronic databases for peer-reviewed studies (2019-2024), intervention taxonomies, manuals (last 10 years), and relevant textbooks.
• Data extraction guided by the TIDieR checklist and additional relevant items.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 243 articles revealed significant reporting inconsistencies in active ingredients.
• Identical labels masked different mechanisms, similar mechanisms had different labels, and terms were used ambiguously.
• These inconsistencies impede intervention replication and cross-study comparisons.

Conclusions:

• A need exists for consensus on consistent, precise, and non-overlapping labeling and definitions of intervention active ingredients.
• Development of a comprehensive, integrative taxonomy is essential for clarity and usability in reporting oral language interventions for (D)LD.
• Clear definitions and a unified framework are critical for clinicians to implement evidence-based practices effectively.