Conversation and language in autistic teens
Official title: Ready to CONNECT: Conversation and Language in Autistic Teens
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11415912 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses real-world and standardized language measures to understand how autistic teens communicate in conversations and how conversational success emerges with different partners.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $484,776 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC021564-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415912 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adolescents aged 12–15 with autism spectrum disorder who have age-appropriate standardized language scores.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who do not engage in conversational tasks or whose language scores are not within the expected range may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
We will study 12–15-year-olds with autism to see which natural and standard language features predict successful conversations. By analyzing spontaneous talk from dyads during videoconferenced chats and pairing them with standardized language tests, we aim to map how linguistic processes relate to real-life communication. The study will compare conversations between autistic and non-autistic partners to explore mutual understanding and the “double empathy” concept. Using machine learning, we’ll identify patterns that indicate successful interaction across neurotypes and collect data from about 500 adolescents. The insights could help tailor language support that reflects everyday conversations, not just tests.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of everyday communication in autistic teens could lead to more effective, real-world language support and interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows promise in linking conversational features to social success, but this study extends to a larger sample and neurotype comparisons.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eigsti, Inge-Marie — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Eigsti, Inge-Marie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.