Investigating brain differences in children with developmental language disorder
Official title: Brain structural and functional abnormalities in the executive function network in children with developmental language disorder
Funded at Father Flanagan's Boys' Home · NIH-11141501 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brains of children with developmental language disorder (DLD) work differently and how those differences might affect their language skills and memory, with the hope of finding better ways to help them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Father Flanagan's Boys' Home NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boys Town, United States) |
| Project start | April 10, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $601,207 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC022081-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141501 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are children aged 0-20 years who have been diagnosed with developmental language disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have developmental language disorder or related cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the brain structure and function in children diagnosed with developmental language disorder (DLD). It aims to explore how these brain differences relate to challenges in language and cognitive abilities, particularly executive functions like working memory. By using advanced neuroimaging techniques, the study seeks to uncover the neural mechanisms behind DLD, which could lead to better-targeted interventions for affected individuals. The research will involve assessing brain activity and structure in children with DLD compared to typically developing peers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions and support strategies for children with developmental language disorder.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been some neuroimaging studies on language disorders, this research aims to take a novel approach by examining broader brain networks involved in executive function, making it a potentially groundbreaking investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
Boys Town, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doucet, Gaelle Eve — Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
- Study coordinator: Doucet, Gaelle Eve
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.