Investigating how poverty affects children's hearing and language skills
Official title: Poverty-Related Risk Factors for Auditory and Language Deficits in Children
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-10931630 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how growing up in poverty affects children's hearing and language skills, especially by exploring how health care differences and hearing issues can make it harder for them to learn to talk, so we can better understand and help kids from low-income families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $635,121 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020918-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10931630 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years from low-income families who may be experiencing language acquisition challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Children from affluent backgrounds or those without any language development issues are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research examines the impact of poverty on children's auditory and language development, focusing on both social and biological factors. It aims to identify how healthcare inequities and auditory function delays contribute to language deficits in children from low-income backgrounds. By analyzing these influences, the study seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms that lead to language acquisition challenges in impoverished children. The research will involve assessing various risk factors and their effects on child development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions and support for children in poverty, enhancing their language development and overall communication skills.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing social determinants can improve child development outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nittrouer, Susan — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Nittrouer, Susan
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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.