The impact of childhood adversity on language development
Official title: Intergenerational Adversity Exposure and Language Acquisition
Funded at Father Flanagan's Boys' Home · NIH-10950569 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R03 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 | September 3, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $167,626 |
| NIH project number | 1R03HD115826-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10950569 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have experienced adverse childhood events and their parents.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced any form of childhood adversity may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
Boys Town, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Selin, Claire — Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
- Study coordinator: Selin, Claire
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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.