How visual speech helps children understand spoken language

The influence of visual speech on lexical access in children

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10893640

This study looks at how watching lip movements can help school-age kids, especially those with hearing loss, understand spoken language better, and it aims to find out if adding these visual cues makes a difference in their learning.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10893640 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how visual cues, like lip movements, can aid children in understanding spoken language, especially for those with hearing loss. The study focuses on school-age children, including those with cochlear implants, to see if adding visual speech cues improves their ability to process and comprehend speech. By examining the interaction between auditory and visual speech, the research aims to clarify the role of these cues in language development and learning. The findings could inform better intervention strategies for children with hearing impairments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are school-age children, particularly those with cochlear implants or other forms of hearing loss.

Not a fit: Children without hearing loss or those who do not use visual cues for speech comprehension may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance communication strategies for children with hearing loss, leading to improved language development and learning outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that visual speech cues can significantly aid adults with hearing loss, suggesting potential benefits for children, though this specific approach in children remains underexplored.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.