Early infant sucking patterns and later speech development
Using Infant Non-Nutritive Suck as a Diagnostic Measure of Future Speech Function
['FUNDING_R01'] · NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11224077
Researchers will follow full-term and moderate-to-late preterm infants to find out whether non-nutritive sucking patterns in the first year predict speech and language by age three.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BOSTON, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11224077 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
As a parent, you'd bring your baby in at about 3, 6, 9, and 12 months so researchers can record non-nutritive sucking (NNS) patterns. The team plans to enroll about 85 full-term and 85 moderate-to-late preterm infants and will check speech and language at 12, 24, and 36 months. Researchers will compare early sucking rhythm, strength, and timing with later measures of articulation and language to look for predictive links. Visits involve short, noninvasive recordings during pacifier-like sucking and standard developmental language tests.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants who are full-term or moderate-to-late preterm (roughly 32–37 weeks gestation) whose parents can attend multiple in-person visits in the first year and follow-up visits through age three.
Not a fit: Infants born extremely preterm (<32 weeks), older children outside the infant enrollment window, or children with medical conditions not included in the study may not receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify infants at risk for speech and language delays earlier so families can get therapy sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Previous retrospective studies have linked neonatal sucking and feeding patterns to later speech and language, but prospective longitudinal prediction like this is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
BOSTON, UNITED STATES
- NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY — BOSTON, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ZIMMERMAN, EMILY — NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: ZIMMERMAN, EMILY
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.