Predicting language outcomes after cochlear implants in children
Official title: Neural Prediction to Enhance Language Outcomes in Children with Cochlear Implant
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11397220 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to use MRI and AI to predict how well kids will develop spoken language after receiving a cochlear implant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $594,938 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC019387-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397220 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 years with cochlear implants and their caregivers who participate in standard post-implant therapy programs.
✕Less likely to help
Children without cochlear implants or those not pursuing related therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses pre-surgical brain MRI scans and AI analysis to build models that forecast individual language outcomes for children up to four years after cochlear implantation. Researchers will test whether the predictions relate to how well a child responds to an intensive speech and language therapy program. The study follows English- and Spanish-learning children as they move through stages of language development after getting an implant, focusing on attention to language, phonological encoding, and the growth of spoken syntax. Outcomes will help tailor treatment plans so each child receives the most effective oral language support. The work is conducted at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago under the guidance of Dr. Nancy Melinda Young.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, clinicians could personalize post-implant therapy to maximize each child’s language outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests neural and AI-based predictors can relate to language outcomes, but this project extends prediction to individual-level trajectories over several years.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Young, Nancy Melinda — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Young, Nancy Melinda
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.