Don’t Forget...

Every week we are busily processing all your completed 2-year-old surveys about your child.

Please continue to complete the surveys and mail them back ideally within 10 days of receiving the forms. The success of this study depends on the quantity and quality of information we receive on each child. Receiving fully completed surveys close to your child's second birthday is vital to the study outcomes!

Please note that if you misplaced your surveys let us know by phone/text: 0468 578 851 or email us. We are happy to get fresh copies to your door or your inbox, whichever your preference.

Many thanks for your cooperation and continuing support of this important study.

Progress Update

The TALK Study is a study within the ORIGINS project – one of the largest pregnancy studies in Australia aiming to better understand how early childhood environments influence the risk of conditions and diseases, and the optimal time for interventions for early detection, prevention and treatments.

The TALK study aimed to recruit a large group of women during pregnancy and follow their baby’s development across early childhood at three times (6-9 months, 24 months, and 42 months). TALK is excited to be one of the very first studies within ORIGINS to complete recruitment, with 501 women agreeing to be part of the study. TALK has also completed all appointments for   6-9 months. Thank you to everyone who came in with their babies!

We have had 12% (59) families withdraw from the study. 27 who we were unable to be contacted, and 9 unable to attend this appointment.

In total, we saw about 82% (409) of our families at the first appointment.

At the 6-9 month appointment, we completed a range of assessments with your baby, including tests of language, development, social-communication, and attention.

We measured children’s overall development in the areas of motor skills, language, and visual reception. These scores are represented by a 'Developmental Quotient' (DQ) which indicate that half of our TALK babies are scoring “Above Average” to “Very High”. This is illustrated in the graph below.

A small number of children scored “Below Average”, but still within the range that can be expected for children this age.

As a group, our TALK study children seem to be achieving their developmental milestones at or above their expected age.

Let's TALK about our new Collaborator

Dr Vincent Mancini has recently joined the Telethon Kids Institute as a Senior Research Officer working on the ORIGINS Neurodevelopmental Risk and Resilience Project. Dr Mancini is a registered psychologist with a keen interest in understanding how the early childhood years’ shape lifelong mental, physical, and social outcomes.

Vincent is part of a research study aiming to better understand the link between behaviour in early childhood and future outcomes. As part of this study, families from the TALK study will be invited to participate in a 20-minute online questionnaire about their child’s behaviour at 2 ½ years of age. This online survey will focus on determining your child’s functioning and whether this can identify risks for behavioural, social, and emotional problems. Invitations for this survey will commence in November, 2020 so keep an eye out.

This project is led by Dr Amy Finlay-Jones and Associate Professor Jenny Downs, as part of the Australian Collaboration for Early Neurodevelopment.

If you have any questions about this survey, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr Mancini directly on 6319 1000 or email.

On the Horizon

In February 2021, we will be starting our final set of appointments, when the children start turning three and a half years of age. This will involve a similar set of face-to-face assessments that was conducted when your child when between 6-9 months.

This marks a very exciting time for the TALK study team and our families as we are heading for the finishing line. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with the Project Coordinator to discuss the assessments; Joanna Granich on 6319 1700 or email.

TALKing with Families

Without the support of families like you, our research study could not happen.

While research experience can mean contributing to scientific discoveries, it can also mean learning new things about your child’s development and health. At the same time, it can feel very reassuring to many parents knowing that your child is achieving their developmental milestones.

Joanna Granich (TALK Study – Project Coordinator) spoke to Laura, TALK mum - who has been part of the TALK study with her two children Darragh and Conor since March 2018.

We asked her some questions about her research experience on the TALK Study.

Q. “What was it like to be part of the TALK study?

“The (research assistants) were great and very flexible, and fitted the assessment needs around [my son’s] needs.

The eye tracking was very interesting and reassuring to know that he was following objects on the screen and tracking well. Same when he was being tested for his gross and fine motor skills.  I learnt a lot about his development and what he could do and it gave me lots of ideas as to what I could do at home and how to play with him.

Q.  “What are the best and worst things about being part of the TALK study?

“Initially, I felt funny and strange about being video recorded while playing with him on the floor. I felt unsure what I was supposed to do and say if anything.  But the second time round I knew what to expect so I felt a lot more comfortable playing with him and being recorded.

“For Darragh it was interesting. He had a lot of ear infections just before his second birthday and at that point his speech wasn’t taking off well. And this was the time when we received the TALK 2- year-old surveys. Watching his speech grow and matching it against the catalogue of words from the TALK 2- year-- old surveys was very reassuring that he was hitting his language milestones. We are grateful that we could be part of this study to learn this.”

Need more information?

For any TALK study enquiries please reach out on 6319 1700 / 0468 578 851 or email us.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

The TALK Team