Language in adults with and without Developmental Language Disorder
Official title: Language outcomes, mechanisms, and trajectories in adults with and without Developmental Language Disorder
Funded at University of Iowa · NIH-11380005 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant helps researchers study how language abilities develop and change in adults with and without developmental language disorder to improve understanding and support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $574,083 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020143-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380005 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with DLD and typically developing adults who can participate in language and cognitive testing.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to participate in cognitive or language testing or who do not have DLD may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers at the University of Iowa will follow adults with and without developmental language disorder to map how language skills evolve over time and how different cognitive processes affect language use. The project will examine how competing linguistic representations activate during speech to uncover underlying mechanisms. By comparing groups, the study aims to identify factors that influence long-term language outcomes and daily functioning. The findings could inform therapies, education, and workplace supports for adults with DLD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of language challenges in adulthood could lead to targeted interventions and supports for individuals with DLD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows adults with DLD have persistent language challenges, and this study builds on that by linking mechanisms to outcomes over time.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hendrickson, Kristi — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Hendrickson, Kristi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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Caregiver actions that support Spanish development in preschool bilingual children at risk for language disorder
This project looks at which everyday caregiver behaviors help Spanish-speaking preschoolers who are emergent bilinguals and may have Developmental Language Disorder keep and grow their home language.
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.