Parent–baby shared attention and early word learning in preterm and full-term babies
Early Predictors of Infant-Parent Coordinated Attention and Word Learning in Preterm and Full-Term Infants
This project looks at how moments when babies and caregivers focus on the same toy help preterm and full-term infants learn words.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321812 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a parent, this project would observe natural play between caregivers and their infants to see when both focus on the same object and when parents name that object. Researchers will compare infants born before 37 weeks (preterm) with full-term infants to measure attention, motor behaviors, and moments of coordinated attention. They will code video and audio of free play and link real-time shared attention episodes to infants' immediate word learning and later language outcomes. The goal is to map how early attention-motor coordination supports or limits language development in preterm babies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are infants in the early development period—especially those born preterm (before 37 weeks gestation)—and their primary caregivers.
Not a fit: Older children, adults, or infants with severe medical or sensory impairments that prevent typical caregiver interaction are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify early signs and targets for supporting word learning in preterm infants.
How similar studies have performed: Research with full-term infants has shown that shared attention with caregivers supports real-time word learning, but applying this approach to preterm infants is novel.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of South Carolina at Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fu, Xiaoxue — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Fu, Xiaoxue
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.