Speech and hearing in people with Down syndrome across ages
Official title: SPEECH PERCEPTION AND AUDITORY ABILITIES IN INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME
Funded at Father Flanagan's Boys' Home · NIH-11327424 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how infants, children, and adults with Down syndrome perceive speech and hear sounds, to understand what helps them communicate better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Father Flanagan's Boys' Home NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boys Town, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $695,197 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020229-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327424 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants include infants, children, and adults with Down syndrome across a wide age range who can participate in listening tasks.
✕Less likely to help
People without Down syndrome or with severe cognitive/communication impairments that prevent task participation may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will study how well people with Down syndrome perceive speech in different ages, from babies to adults, and how hearing abilities develop over time. They will compare native and non-native speech sounds and examine how hearing loss affects understanding consonants in different age groups. The study also explores whether people with Down syndrome use selective listening strategies differently and how this develops with age. By following participants across development, the team aims to identify factors that support better communication outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide tailored interventions to improve speech perception and communication for individuals with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in neurotypical individuals informs this project, but there is limited data specifically for Down syndrome, making this largely exploratory with potential for new insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
Boys Town, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leibold, Lori J. — Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
- Study coordinator: Leibold, Lori J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How speech and swallowing work in people with Down syndrome
Researchers will look at how differences in the mouth, throat, and brain affect speech clarity and safe swallowing in children and adults with Down syndrome.
-
Understanding how people with Down syndrome hear and understand speech
This study is looking at how people with Down syndrome, from babies to adults, hear and understand speech, especially in noisy places, to learn more about their communication skills and how hearing loss might impact them.
-
Understanding speech and swallowing challenges in individuals with Down syndrome
This study is looking at the speech and swallowing challenges that people with Down syndrome face, so we can find better ways to help them stay healthy and safe.
-
Understanding how to improve speech ability in children with Down Syndrome
This study is looking at what helps kids with Down Syndrome, ages 7 to 12, improve their speech skills, so they can communicate better, and it will use a special program to help them along the way.
-
Exploring how Down syndrome affects optic nerve health in kids
A study using a mouse model to understand why optic nerve problems are common in children with Down syndrome and how to prevent them.
-
Executive Function Enhancement for Young Children with Down Syndrome
A caregiver-guided program for kids with Down syndrome aged up to 11 to strengthen their thinking skills during early childhood.
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.