How caregiver speech affects brain and behavior development in infants at risk for autism.
Official title: Caregiver Speech and Brain-Behavior Development in Infants At-Risk for ASD
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11079667 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the way caregivers talk to their babies, especially those with an older sibling with autism, can help support their brain and behavior development in the first year of life, with the hope of finding ways to help them before any signs of autism appear.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | May 20, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $716,811 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC019660-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11079667 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants aged 0-12 months who have an older sibling diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Infants without a familial history of autism or those who are not at high risk for developing autism may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the speech of caregivers influences the brain and behavior development of infants who are at high risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By focusing on infants with an older sibling diagnosed with autism, the study aims to understand the protective effects of caregiver interactions during the critical first year of life. Researchers will collect and analyze recordings of caregiver and infant speech during natural interactions at home, as well as during structured play sessions in a lab setting. The goal is to identify early indicators that could inform interventions for infants before the onset of ASD symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to early interventions that enhance developmental outcomes for infants at risk for autism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding early interventions for autism, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Swanson, Meghan Rae — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Swanson, Meghan Rae
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Caregiver Speech and Infant Brain Development in Siblings of Children with Autism
This project follows babies who have an older sibling with autism to explore how caregiver talk and everyday interactions relate to early brain and behavior development.
-
Caregiver-led early speech help for toddlers with cleft palate
A caregiver-implemented, telehealth-based program teaches families how to support their toddler’s speech and language development in English and Spanish.
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Caregiver talk and infant brain development in babies at risk for autism
This project follows babies who have an older sibling with autism to see how everyday caregiver speech and babies’ brain and behavior grow together in the first year of life.
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Caregiver-led mobile tool to support healthy habits for kids treated for ALL
A caregiver-directed mobile program helps children who were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia build healthier daily routines.
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Biomechanical check of a caregiver transfer technique tool
This grant tests a quick, objective way to measure how well informal caregivers transfer a person, with the goal of reducing caregiver and care recipient injuries.
-
Negotiation training to help Alzheimer’s caregivers communicate with care teams
A program called NegotiAge helps families caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease learn better negotiation skills to talk with doctors, insurers, and other caregivers.
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.