Improving executive function in children with language disorders through verbal training
Official title: Training verbal mediation to support executive function in children with developmental language disorder
Funded at Mgh Institute of Health Professions · NIH-11121115 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how teaching kids with developmental language disorder to use words and language can help them think better and manage their behavior, making it easier for them to succeed in school and everyday life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mgh Institute of Health Professions NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlestown, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 4, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $192,289 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC022641-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121115 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are children aged 0-11 diagnosed with developmental language disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Children without developmental language disorders or those who do not fall within the specified age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how training in verbal mediation can enhance executive function skills in children with developmental language disorder (DLD). The approach focuses on using language-based interventions to help these children improve their cognitive flexibility, which is crucial for academic success and daily functioning. By modeling verbal strategies, the study aims to support children in using self-directed language to better manage their behaviors and thoughts. The research will assess the effectiveness of these interventions in improving task performance among school-aged children with DLD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved cognitive and academic outcomes for children with developmental language disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using language-based training to enhance executive function in children with typical language development, suggesting potential for success in this novel application for children with DLD.
Where this research is happening
-
Mgh Institute of Health Professions
Charlestown, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baron, Lauren Scheiper — Mgh Institute of Health Professions
- Study coordinator: Baron, Lauren Scheiper
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Retrieval-based Word Learning for Young Children with Developmental Language Disorder
A project helps 4- to 5-year-olds with language disorder learn new words more effectively using memory-based learning tricks.
-
Predicting Developmental Language Delay in Young Children
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-
Understanding how infants’ early speech becomes language skills and how it might signal language disorders
This grant studies how a baby’s brain learns sounds in the first year of life and whether early patterns can predict and prevent language disorders.
-
Language in adults with and without Developmental Language Disorder
This grant helps researchers study how language abilities develop and change in adults with and without developmental language disorder to improve understanding and support.
-
Understanding short-term verbal memory in children and adults with Developmental Language Disorder
A study to understand the memory and language links in people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) across kids and adults.
-
Computer-assisted bilingual vocabulary help for kids with language disorder
A computer-assisted program helps monolingual clinicians teach bilingual Spanish-English vocabulary to emergent bilingual children with developmental language disorder.
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.