Exploring how deaf children of hearing parents learn both sign and spoken language
Family ASL: Bimodal Bilingual Acquisition by Deaf Children of Hearing Parents
This study looks at how young deaf children learn both sign language and spoken language while their hearing parents are learning sign language too, to see how this helps everyone communicate better and grow together.
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 ID | NIH-10671644 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how young deaf children, whose hearing parents are learning American Sign Language (ASL), acquire both signed and spoken language. It focuses on the children's language development and non-linguistic growth while also documenting the parents' journey in learning ASL. By tracking the progress of both the children and their parents, the study aims to understand the effectiveness of a bimodal bilingual approach in supporting language acquisition in deaf children. The research is particularly important for improving communication and developmental outcomes for children born deaf.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are deaf children aged 0-11 years who have hearing parents actively learning ASL.
Not a fit: Patients who are deaf and have parents who are fluent in ASL or who are not engaged in learning ASL may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance language development strategies for deaf children, leading to better communication skills and overall well-being.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that early exposure to a full, natural language significantly benefits deaf children, suggesting that this approach may also yield positive results.
Where this research is happening
Storrs-Mansfield, United States
- University of Connecticut Storrs — Storrs-Mansfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lillo-Martin, Diane Carolyn — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Lillo-Martin, Diane Carolyn
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.