How bilingual children's conversations change when switching languages
Official title: The Role of Interlocutor Behavior on Code Switching Patterns in Bilingual Children with and without Developmental Language Disorders
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-10918106 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how bilingual kids, whether they have language challenges or not, switch between languages when they talk to different people, and it hopes to help doctors better understand and support these children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2023 |
| Project end | August 20, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $37,039 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DC021619-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10918106 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are bilingual children aged 0-11 years, particularly those with developmental language disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are monolingual or do not have language development concerns may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bilingual children, both with and without developmental language disorders, switch between languages during conversations. It uses a unique approach that involves recording and analyzing interactions with different types of conversation partners, including those who speak only one language or both. By examining these interactions, the study aims to understand the relationship between language ability and code-switching behavior. The findings could help improve diagnostic practices for clinicians working with bilingual children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance understanding of bilingual language development and improve support for children with language disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding bilingual language use, but this study aims to address gaps in methodology and provide new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernandez, Michelle — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Hernandez, Michelle
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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.