How Deaf Children Use Gaze to Connect Sign Language and What They See
Development of Gaze Control for Integration of Language and Visual Information in Deaf Children
This project explores how deaf children learning American Sign Language use their eyes to connect signs with objects and events around them, helping them learn new words.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11086006 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Deaf children learn language visually, using sign language and observing the world at the same time. This means they need to quickly shift their visual attention between what is being signed and what it refers to. This project aims to understand how deaf children develop this skill, especially since many may not have full access to spoken language or parents fluent in sign language. By understanding how they learn words, we hope to find better ways to support their early language development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is focused on young deaf children who are learning American Sign Language.
Not a fit: Patients who are not deaf or are not learning sign language would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to improved strategies and resources to help young deaf children develop strong language skills, which are crucial for their future learning and academic success.
How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of language acquisition is well-studied, this specific focus on the unique visual attention demands for deaf children learning sign language is a critical and less explored area.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University (Charles River Campus) — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lieberman, Amy M — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Lieberman, Amy M
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 below.