How preterm and full-term babies and their parents focus together for early word learning
Early Predictors of Infant-Parent Coordinated Attention and Word Learning in Preterm and Full-Term Infants
['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · NIH-11163550
This project looks at how preterm and full-term infants and their caregivers coordinate attention during play to support early word learning.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11163550 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Families with preterm and full-term infants will be invited to play with toys while researchers record where babies and caregivers look and how babies move. The team will measure infants' attention and motor skills and count moments when both baby and caregiver focus on the same object (coordinated visual attention). They will link those moments to when parents name toys and to early word learning, and follow language development over time. The work aims to find early signs that predict later language delays, especially for babies born preterm.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are infants born preterm (before 37 weeks) and full-term infants in their first year, with a caregiver willing to take part in play sessions and follow-up testing.
Not a fit: Children outside the infant age range or those with severe acute medical conditions may not directly benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify early signs of language delay in preterm infants so families can get earlier support.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies in full-term infants have linked coordinated parent-child attention to better word learning, but applying these measures to preterm infants is a new approach.
Where this research is happening
COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA — COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FU, XIAOXUE — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- Study coordinator: FU, XIAOXUE
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.