How Deaf and Hearing Parents Help Their Autistic Children Focus
Official title: Attention Regulation Strategies Used by Deaf and Hearing Parents of Autistic Children
Funded at Miami University Oxford · NIH-11042413 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how Deaf and hearing parents get their autistic kids to pay attention and interact, hoping to find the best ways to help improve communication skills for these children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Miami University Oxford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oxford, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $433,438 |
| NIH project number | 1R15DC021828-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042413 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and their Deaf or hearing parents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have autism or are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the different strategies used by Deaf and hearing parents to capture and maintain their autistic children's attention. By observing interactions between these caregivers and their children, the study aims to identify which methods are most effective in fostering joint attention, a crucial aspect of language development. The project will analyze the visual attention techniques employed by Deaf parents, who may have unique advantages in this area. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance understanding of how these strategies can support better communication outcomes for children with autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved communication strategies for parents of autistic children, enhancing language development.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on Deaf parents' strategies is novel, previous research has shown that effective attention-regulating strategies can significantly impact language development in children with autism.
Where this research is happening
-
Miami University Oxford
Oxford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shield, Aaron M. — Miami University Oxford
- Study coordinator: Shield, Aaron M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How parents' public work programs affect children's health and learning in LMICs
A study will look at how families' participation in government cash-for-work programs influences kids’ health, education, and well-being in several low- and middle-income countries.
-
How parents' participation in public work programs may affect children's health and education in low- and middle-income countries
A study at Duke University will look at how families in poor countries who join public work programs might influence their children’s health, schooling, and well-being.
-
Building Community Health Workers’ Capacity to Support Parents with Young Children in Kenya
A project in Kenya trains and supports Community Health Workers to help parents of young children prevent and reduce risk factors for noncommunicable diseases.
-
PREEMIE PROGRESS: a family program to help parents of very preterm babies
A family-centered program that teaches parents how to care for very preterm infants, offers psychosocial support, and connects families with resources to address social needs.
-
Culturally tailored Youth Mental Health First Aid for Asian American Parents
A program helps Asian American parents learn how to recognize and respond to their teens’ mental health signs in a culturally respectful way.
-
Information and social media use for autism info in young children
A research project looks at how speech-language pathologists and parents of young autistic children use social media for information and what makes that information trustworthy.
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.