SynthesisInternational journal of language & communication disorders
Parent-reported outcome measures evaluating communication in individuals with rare neurodevelopmental disorders: A systematic review.
Synthesis in International journal of language & communication disorders. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Cognitive and behavioral clinical outcome assessments in children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies: Issues and instruments.Epilepsia · 2026Review
- Evaluating different scoring algorithms to assess communication ability for individuals living with Angelman syndrome: the Observer-Reported Communication Ability (ORCA) measure.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2026Article
- Caregiver Reports of Neurodevelopmental Functions in Pediatric Lysosomal Storage Disorders: A Scoping Review.Journal of inherited metabolic disease · 2026Article
- Content Validation of the Communication Inventory Disability-Observer Reported (CID-OR).Journal of child neurology · 2026Article
- Development and initial validation of the Communication Inventory Disability - Observer Reported (CID-OR): a measure of communication in CDKL5 deficiency disorder.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundCommunication impairments are a leading concern for parent caregivers of individuals with rare neurodevelopmental disorders (RNDDs). Clinical trials of disease modifying therapies require valid and responsive outcome measures that are relevant to individuals with RNDDs. Identifying and evaluating current psychometric properties for communication measures is a critical step towards the selection and use of appropriate instruments.
aimsThis systematic review offers (1) a description of parent-reported communication measures and (2) evidence for their psychometric properties, in RNDDs.
methodsThe systematic review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42022334649). MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, PsychINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry were searched from inception to August 2023. Methodological assessment of quality was completed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Parent-reported measures used in observational studies and clinical trials were identified. Data on utility, reliability and validity for RNDDs were extracted. MAIN CONTRIBUTION: Sixteen parent-reported communication measures were used in RNDD research, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales being most commonly used. Validation data in RNDDs were identified for six of these measures. Limitations related to sample size or the scope of psychometric testing.
conclusionsMany communication measures have been used for RNDDs but there are few data validating their use. Valid and reliable methods of measuring communication in persons with RNDDs is a priority for future high-quality clinical trials. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject Communication is a critical domain for families with a child with a rare neurodevelopmental disorder (RNDD). Validated outcome measures are essential for accurate evaluation and interpretation of responses to treatments in clinical trials. What this paper adds to existing knowledge We identified 16 parent-reported communication measures that have been used with RNDDs, but only six measures had validation data for at least one RNDD. High quality evidence is accumulating, with all validation studies in this review published between 2020 to 2023. Modifications of existing measures may be required to assess communication for RNDDs. What are the clinical implications of this work? This systematic review catalogues the available psychometric data for communication measures and indicates an ongoing need for new validation studies to ensure they are fit-for-purpose for upcoming clinical trials in RNDDs. This review will inform the selection of communication measures for clinical trials and research studies.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.