Helping adults with and without language disorder remember speech sounds better

Improving the retention of speech-perceptual learning in adults with and without language disorder

NIH-funded research University of Delaware · NIH-11142625

This project explores different training schedules to help adults, including those with language disorders, better remember speech sounds.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Delaware NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11142625 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project aims to discover the most effective training schedule for adults to remember new speech sounds, especially for those with developmental language disorder (DLD). We know that adults with DLD often face challenges with learning and memory, including how they consolidate new information overnight. Researchers will invite adults, both with and without DLD, to participate in speech-perceptual training sessions. By testing different training times over a 24-hour period, we hope to find the optimal practice schedule that improves how well speech sounds are retained.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults, both with and without developmental language disorder (DLD), who are interested in participating in speech-perceptual training are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients who are not adults or do not have an interest in improving speech sound retention may not directly benefit from participating in this specific project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more effective learning strategies for adults with language disorders, potentially improving their communication skills and supporting educational and vocational achievement.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds on recent findings suggesting memory consolidation deficits in DLD and combines insights from neurobiology, chronobiology, and speech perception to explore optimal training schedules.

Where this research is happening

Newark, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.