Teaching grammatical skills to children with language impairment

Evaluation of an Explicit Approach to Teach Grammatical Forms to Children with Language Impairment

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-11087679

This study is looking at the best ways to help kids aged 5 to 8 with developmental language disorder learn grammar, by comparing two teaching methods to see which one helps them improve their language skills more effectively.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11087679 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how to effectively teach grammatical forms to children aged 5 to 8 years who have developmental language disorder (DLD). It employs a randomized clinical trial design to compare two different teaching methods: one that combines explicit and implicit instruction and another that relies solely on implicit instruction. Participants will engage in a series of treatment sessions targeting specific grammatical forms, with their progress measured over time to assess the effectiveness of each approach. The study aims to identify which teaching method is more beneficial for improving language skills in children with DLD.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 5 to 8 years diagnosed with developmental language disorder and exhibiting significant grammatical weaknesses.

Not a fit: Children outside the age range of 5 to 8 years or those without developmental language disorder may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance language acquisition skills in children with developmental language disorder, leading to better communication abilities.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results using similar approaches to teaching language skills, indicating potential for success in this study.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.