Evaluating language and thinking skills in older deaf individuals
Assessment of Language and Cognition in Older Deaf Signers
This study is looking at how well we can check the thinking skills of older deaf adults who use American Sign Language and written English, to see if their language skills affect how we diagnose Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10771099 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing assessment tools for cognitive status in older adults who are deaf and use both American Sign Language (ASL) and written English. The project aims to understand how language proficiency affects the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in this unique population. By creating tests that can be administered in either ASL or English, the researchers hope to identify which language yields the most accurate results. This is particularly important as many deaf individuals may have experienced language deprivation, which could influence their cognitive assessment outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who are deaf and communicate using both ASL and written English.
Not a fit: Patients who are not deaf or do not use ASL as a primary mode of communication may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease in older deaf individuals, improving their access to appropriate care and support.
How similar studies have performed: While research on cognitive assessment in deaf populations is limited, the approach of using language proficiency to enhance diagnostic accuracy has shown promise in other bilingual contexts.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gollan, Tamar — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Gollan, Tamar
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.