The impact of childhood adversity on language development

Intergenerational Adversity Exposure and Language Acquisition

NIH-funded research Father Flanagan's Boys' Home · NIH-10950569

This study looks at how tough experiences in childhood can impact how kids learn to talk, focusing on how parents' own childhood challenges shape the way they communicate with their little ones, especially for preschoolers who have faced difficulties.

Quick facts

Grant typeR03 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionFather Flanagan's Boys' Home NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boys Town, United States)
Project IDNIH-10950569 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how experiences of adversity in childhood affect language acquisition in children. It focuses on the interactions between parents and their children, particularly how a parent's own childhood experiences of adversity influence the language they use with their child. By analyzing video recordings of parent-child interactions, the study aims to understand the quality and quantity of language input provided by parents and how this relates to the child's language development. The research utilizes a dataset of preschoolers who have faced significant adversity, allowing for a detailed examination of these dynamics over time.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have experienced adverse childhood events and their parents.

Not a fit: Patients who have not experienced any form of childhood adversity may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions that enhance language development in children exposed to adversity.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that addressing the impact of childhood adversity can lead to significant improvements in developmental outcomes, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Boys Town, 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.