SibWatch: Optimizing Early Help for Infants and Toddlers at Risk for Social Communication Delays
Official title: SibWatch: Optimizing Intervention Options for Infants and Toddlers with a High Likelihood for Social Communication Delays and Language Disorder
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11415869 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study is testing early intervention strategies to support young children who may later be diagnosed with autism or language delays, focusing on families with an autistic younger sibling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $700,852 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC022338-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415869 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are infants and toddlers (0-3 years) who have a younger sibling with autism and who are at higher risk for social communication delays or language disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Families not eligible or not matching the high-risk profile may not experience direct benefits from this specific program.
What this research studies
This project aims to identify when preemptive supports for infants and toddlers can most improve social communication and language skills. It will examine how caregivers’ use of scaffolding strategies affects child development and how factors related to both child and caregiver influence intervention effects. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin will enroll families with HL-Sibs (younger siblings of children with autism) and apply targeted early interventions, tracking outcomes over time. The goal is to pinpoint mediators and moderators that explain who benefits most from early support and when it should be delivered for maximal impact.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more effective early strategies that help children at risk for autism and language delays achieve better social communication and language outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests early, caregiver-supported interventions can influence development, but clear mediators and optimal timing remain to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hampton, Lauren Hazledine — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Hampton, Lauren Hazledine
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.