Investigating language skills in children with Developmental Language Disorder across different English dialects

Disorder within Dialects: An Expanded Test of Tense and Agreement in Sentence Recall for Children with DLD

NIH-funded research Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-10867436

This study is looking to help children with Developmental Language Disorder who speak different kinds of English, like African American English, by creating a new way to check how well they can remember and use sentences, making sure it fits their unique way of speaking.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionLouisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baton Rouge, United States)
Project IDNIH-10867436 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) who speak nonmainstream dialects of English, such as African American English. It aims to develop and validate a new sentence recall task that assesses tense and agreement deficits in these children, ensuring that their unique dialectal features are considered in clinical assessments. By including a wider range of dialects, the study seeks to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment approaches for children with DLD. The research will involve testing this new task with children from diverse linguistic backgrounds to ensure its effectiveness and applicability in clinical settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have been diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder and speak nonmainstream dialects of English.

Not a fit: Children who do not have Developmental Language Disorder or who speak only mainstream dialects of English may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnoses and better treatment options for children with DLD who speak nonmainstream dialects.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success in using dialect-informed assessments for children with DLD, indicating a promising approach for this research.

Where this research is happening

Baton Rouge, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.