Understanding communication challenges in adolescents with Down syndrome
Official title: A biopsychosocial approach to the deep phenotyping of communicative participation in adolescents with Down syndrome
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-10879335 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the communication challenges that teenagers with Down syndrome face and aims to create personalized support to help them express themselves better and participate more in everyday life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $588,631 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD112393-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10879335 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 21 with a diagnosis of Down syndrome who experience communication challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have Down syndrome or those who do not experience significant communication difficulties may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the communication difficulties faced by adolescents with Down syndrome, which often hinder their participation in daily activities. By employing a biopsychosocial approach, the study aims to develop tailored interventions that address not only the speech production issues but also the psychosocial factors affecting these individuals. The research will create detailed profiles of communicative participation to inform the development of effective, evidence-based strategies that consider the unique experiences of adolescents with Down syndrome. This approach seeks to improve their overall quality of life and engagement in society.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved communication skills and greater social participation for adolescents with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically targeting communication interventions for adolescents with Down syndrome, similar approaches in other populations have shown promise in improving communicative participation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: White, Meghan Darling — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: White, Meghan Darling
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Silencing an Extra Chromosome to Help Down Syndrome and Related Conditions
A patient-friendly plan to use a gene-based approach to quiet an extra chromosome in cells and a mouse model to reduce disease-related effects in Down syndrome and other chromosomal imbalance disorders.
-
Infant Down Syndrome Brain and Behavior Study
A study of infants with Down syndrome to collect brain imaging and developmental data, creating a large, shared resource to understand how autism and other factors relate to development.
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DS-ARC: Smartphone-based cognitive check for people with Down syndrome at risk for Alzheimer’s
A smartphone-based cognitive test is being developed and tested for people with Down syndrome who may develop Alzheimer’s disease, to track changes quietly in daily life.
-
Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
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.