Language development after exposure to viruses before birth
Long-term language outcomes in children with prenatal virus exposure
This project looks at how being exposed to viruses in the womb affects language and communication in children born during the Zika outbreak.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302704 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child was born during the 2015–2017 Zika outbreak in Brazil, researchers are following children with and without documented prenatal exposure to compare language and communication over time. They use detailed speech and language tests, behavioral observations, and physiological measures such as auditory testing to find subtle problems that might appear later in childhood even if the newborn exam was normal. The team aims to identify early signs that predict later language differences so families and clinicians can offer support sooner. Participation may involve clinic visits, hearing checks, recordings, and questionnaires about your child's communication.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children from the Brazilian cohort born during the Zika pandemic with known prenatal exposure status, especially preschool and early school-age children.
Not a fit: Children whose language issues are explained by clear hearing loss at birth or major nonverbal intellectual disability may not gain direct benefit from the study's language-specific findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help detect hidden language problems earlier so children can get speech and educational support sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this group and others has shown subtle communication delays in Zika-exposed infants and preschoolers, so this builds on emerging evidence rather than being entirely novel.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hood, Linda J. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Hood, Linda J.
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.