Retrieval-based Word Learning for Young Children with Developmental Language Disorder
Official title: Retrieval-Based Word Learning in Developmental Language Disorder
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11450361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project helps 4- to 5-year-olds with language disorder learn new words more effectively using memory-based learning tricks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $619,134 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DC014708-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11450361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 4–5 years diagnosed with developmental language disorder (DLD) who are learning to speak and understand words.
✕Less likely to help
Children without DLD or those outside the target age range may not benefit from these specific word-learning strategies.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving how children with developmental language disorder learn new words through retrieval-based learning strategies. It tests scaffolding, fading, and varied encoding to strengthen long-term word retention, using spaced retrieval and elaborative encoding. The work unfolds across several small studies that adapt real-word tasks for 4- and 5-year-olds and refine methods based on results. The goal is to produce practical teaching approaches that teachers and clinicians can use to boost vocabulary and language skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the methods could help young children with DLD acquire vocabulary more efficiently, supporting their academic and social development.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in retrieval-based learning has shown promise, and this project builds on that foundation with a focus on DLD and real-word vocabulary.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karpicke, Jeffrey — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Karpicke, Jeffrey
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Predicting Developmental Language Delay in Young Children
A study of young children to identify early signs that predict developmental language delay, using timing and processing measures from two new language screening tools.
-
Understanding how infants’ early speech becomes language skills and how it might signal language disorders
This grant studies how a baby’s brain learns sounds in the first year of life and whether early patterns can predict and prevent language disorders.
-
Language in adults with and without Developmental Language Disorder
This grant helps researchers study how language abilities develop and change in adults with and without developmental language disorder to improve understanding and support.
-
Understanding short-term verbal memory in children and adults with Developmental Language Disorder
A study to understand the memory and language links in people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) across kids and adults.
-
Computer-assisted bilingual vocabulary help for kids with language disorder
A computer-assisted program helps monolingual clinicians teach bilingual Spanish-English vocabulary to emergent bilingual children with developmental language disorder.
-
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.