SleepBoost: The feasibility of supporting sleep to support language

This project will test the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a caregiver-led sleep intervention, SleepBoost, for 2-3 year old children with language difficulties, alongside an embedded community language programme, Chatterbox. 

Why this project is important

Numerous programmes focus on boosting children’s early language, recognising its role in school readiness and the high prevalence of early language difficulties. Children’s sleep problems are also  substantial: 12% of 3-to-6-year-old children have difficulties initiating or maintaining overnight sleep. Sleep problems are particularly prevalent in children with developmental disorders and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The link between sleep and language is well established, however, no research has explored whether running a sleep intervention alongside a language intervention boosts the benefits gained from the language programme. 

What it will involve

In this project, SleepBoost,  a pre-school sleep intervention, will be run alongside the language intervention Chatterbox. SleepBoost guides caregivers to make small, sustainable changes to their child’s bedtime routine and/or physical or emotional sleep environment.  

The following research questions will be answered: 

1. Is a family-based intervention to improve child sleep associated with gains in sleep for 2-to-3-year-old children with language difficulties? 

2. Is it feasible, acceptable, and practicable to run SleepBoost alongside a child language intervention for caregivers and early years community practitioners? 

3. Are changes to children’s sleep associated with changes to language in 2-to-3-year-old children with early language difficulties? Can the possible effect size of any additional gains be estimated to inform a future trial? 

4. What can be learned about measures, participant retention, and acceptability of trial methodology to inform a randomised control trial? Which outcomes are acceptable and feasible to families and sensitive to changes in child language, sleep, and associated variables? 

Families in two disadvantaged wards in North Tyneside already taking-part in Chatterbox and who describe their children as being poor sleepers will be offered the SleepBoost programme.  

Changes to children’s sleep and language development will be measured using standardised assessments, and feasibility and acceptability of delivering SleepBoost as an adjunct to Chatterbox will be explored through interviews and focus groups with caregivers and professionals and through monitoring the recruitment, drop-out rates, and ease of data collection. 

How it will make a difference

Findings will advance understanding and awareness of the role of sleep in early language development in the shorter term, and contribute to the development of a theoretically informed, acceptable, and feasible child sleep intervention delivered by community practitioners.