Quick bilingual language screener for Spanish-English and Mandarin-English toddlers
Official title: Development and validation of a quick, tablet-based, receptive language screener for Spanish-English and Mandarin-English bilingual toddlers
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11452790 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A fast, tablet-based screen tool helps identify language development needs in bilingual toddlers (ages 24–36 months) who speak Spanish-English or Mandarin-English.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,986,362 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD120755-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11452790 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 24–36 months who are raised in bilingual Spanish-English or Mandarin-English environments.
✕Less likely to help
Toddlers who are not bilingual in the tested language pairs may not benefit from this screener.
What this research studies
This project creates a short, user-friendly tablet screener that any service provider can use to check language skills in bilingual toddlers. It tests vocabulary, sentence understanding, and processing in both languages with two versions—Spanish-English and Mandarin-English—so children aren’t misidentified due to language background. The screeners are designed to be used without specialized training, aiming for fair, accurate screening across language groups. Results will guide early support and referrals to ensure timely help where needed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the screener could enable more accurate identification of language needs in bilingual children, leading to earlier support and better educational outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows promise in language screening tools, but this project focuses on culturally and linguistically balanced bilingual assessment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Su, Pumpki Lei — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Su, Pumpki Lei
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.