How socioeconomic factors affect language development in young children
Neural and environmental mechanisms of language development during the first three years of life
This study looks at how a family's financial situation affects how young kids learn to talk, focusing on how what parents say to their children can shape their language skills as they grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10703250 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how socioeconomic status (SES) influences language development in children aged three years. It focuses on the relationship between parental language input and brain development, aiming to understand how these factors contribute to language outcomes. By analyzing a diverse dataset of mothers and children, the study seeks to improve methods for measuring parental language input and its effects on young children's language skills. This research is particularly important as it addresses gaps in understanding language development during the critical early years of life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are children aged 0-3 years from various socioeconomic and racial backgrounds.
Not a fit: Children over the age of three or those from homogeneous socioeconomic backgrounds may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for supporting language development in children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown significant findings regarding parental language input and child language outcomes in older children, but this study aims to explore these dynamics in a younger population, making it a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leech, Kathryn a — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Leech, Kathryn a
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.