Improving how we spot late talking in bilingual kids
Official title: Addressing screening gaps to improve identification of late talking in dual language learners
Funded at Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger · NIH-11462069 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to help pediatric providers better identify true late talkers among Spanish-dominant bilingual toddlers so they can get timely help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 11, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,044,144 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC024086-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11462069 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children 0-3 years old who are Spanish-dominant bilinguals and are undergoing routine developmental screening.
✕Less likely to help
Children who are not bilingual or whose screening results are already accurate may see limited impact.
What this research studies
This project focuses on 0- to 3-year-olds who are learning two languages, with an emphasis on Spanish-speaking families. It aims to create and test language screening methods that work well when children are growing up with more than one language and when parents come from diverse backgrounds. Researchers will consider child behaviors, parental factors, and community supports to refine screening for accuracy. The work will involve collaborating with pediatric clinics to collect information from families and monitor how well the new screening approach works over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce misidentification and help more children access early language intervention sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that bilingual factors can affect screening accuracy, but tools tailored for DLLs are still developing and show promising potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reetzke, Rachel — Hugo W. Moser Res Inst Kennedy Krieger
- Study coordinator: Reetzke, Rachel
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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.