Investigating how infant sucking patterns can predict future speech abilities
Using Infant Non-Nutritive Suck as a Diagnostic Measure of Future Speech Function
This study is looking at how sucking habits in babies might affect their speech development later on, and it's for parents of both full-term and preterm infants who want to understand how early feeding behaviors could relate to their child's future talking skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10983746 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the relationship between non-nutritive sucking (NNS) in infants and their future speech development. By observing infants at various ages, the study aims to collect data on their sucking patterns and later speech outcomes. The approach involves a longitudinal design, where both full-term and preterm infants will be monitored over time to identify any correlations between early feeding behaviors and later speech and language skills. This could provide valuable insights into early indicators of speech development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are infants aged 0-12 months, particularly those born preterm or with known feeding difficulties.
Not a fit: Patients who are older than 12 months or those without any feeding or speech concerns may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to early diagnostic tools for predicting speech and language difficulties in infants.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising links between early feeding behaviors and later speech development, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Northeastern University — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zimmerman, Emily — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Zimmerman, Emily
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.