How age and community affect language development in deaf individuals
Official title: Effects of age of acquisition and of community on argument ordering
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10936523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the age when deaf people first learn sign language and the type of sign language community they are part of affects how well they can organize their thoughts in language, and it’s designed for deaf individuals who use American, Vanuatu, or Fijian Sign Language, as well as their families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $41,566 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DC021625-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10936523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include deaf individuals of varying ages who have been exposed to different sign languages, particularly those who are either very young or older adults.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not deaf or who have not been exposed to sign language may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the age at which deaf individuals are first exposed to sign language and the characteristics of their language community influence their ability to order arguments in language. The study focuses on three groups of deaf individuals who use different sign languages: American Sign Language, Vanuatu Sign Language, and Fijian Sign Language. By analyzing how these individuals produce language through a picture description task, the research aims to understand the relationship between early language exposure and language development outcomes. This could provide insights into effective communication strategies for deaf children and their families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved language acquisition strategies for deaf children, enhancing their communication skills and overall cognitive development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that early exposure to language significantly impacts language development, suggesting that this study's approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miles, Rachel Elizabeth — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Miles, Rachel Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improved MRI guidance for pediatric heart catheterization using autonomous multi-beat image synthesis
Aiming to make MRI-guided pediatric heart catheterizations safer and more reliable by using smart, multi-beat data fusion to produce clearer real-time MRI images.
-
Adapting a combination approach to reduce heavy drinking and boost HIV care and prevention among young men
A pilot project tests a proven program that helps young men cut down on heavy drinking and improves HIV treatment and prevention outcomes.
-
How specific anti-NMDAR1 antibodies in the blood may affect memory and brain protection
This research is exploring whether natural or abnormal anti-NMDAR1 antibodies in the blood influence memory, behavior, and brain protection in humans.
-
Screening and treatment of Chlamydia infection in pregnancy to help prevent preterm birth
This grant studies whether screening pregnant people for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating those who are positive can reduce the risk of preterm birth.
-
Pharmacometrics Core at UC San Diego
A pharmacometrics core is funded to support researchers in analyzing drug data to improve how medicines work for patients.
-
Milk Analytics Core for Precision Dairy Research
A core facility at UC San Diego will provide specialized milk analysis services to support research on dairy biology and human health.
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.