Early detection of developmental delays in young children with sickle cell disease
Early Identification Of Developmental Delay Among Infants And Toddlers With Sickle Cell Disease
This project screens infants and toddlers with sickle cell disease at specific ages to find learning or movement delays early and offer caregiver support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11097168 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Your child would be screened at about 9, 18, and 30 months using standard developmental tests and review of medical history. Caregivers may be offered a home-based education program to support areas where the child is behind. The team will compare results to children without sickle cell disease to understand how common and how severe early delays are. The goal is to spot problems early so families can get therapies and support sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants and toddlers diagnosed with sickle cell disease—particularly those under three years old—are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without sickle cell disease, older children and adults, or those already past the early intervention window are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier referrals and interventions that improve developmental outcomes for young children with SCD.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier pilot work found over half of young children with SCD had developmental deficits before age three and caregiver education improved test scores, but larger controlled studies are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoyt, Catherine Rose — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Hoyt, Catherine Rose
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 below.