Telehealth tools for assessing language development in people with Down syndrome
Telehealth-delivered outcome measures for Spanish- and English-speaking people with Down syndrome
This study is creating an easy-to-use tool for caregivers to help track how well people with Down syndrome are developing their speaking skills at home, whether they speak English or Spanish, and it’s especially helpful for older adults to spot any early signs of cognitive changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10730307 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing and validating a telehealth-delivered assessment tool for measuring expressive language growth in individuals with Down syndrome, particularly for both English and Spanish speakers. The Expressive Language Sampling-Narrative (ELS-N) procedure will be adapted for use at home by caregivers, making it more accessible for diverse populations. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of this tool in tracking language development and early signs of cognitive decline, especially in older adults with Down syndrome.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with Down syndrome, particularly those who are older adults or bilingual in English and Spanish.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have Down syndrome or those who are not within the age range of interest may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a reliable method for caregivers to monitor language development and cognitive health in individuals with Down syndrome, leading to better-targeted interventions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in using telehealth methods for assessments in other populations, but this specific approach for Down syndrome is novel.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abbeduto, Leonard J. — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Abbeduto, Leonard J.
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 below.