Understanding how children learn to connect spoken and written language
Official title: Behavioral and neural measures of phonological-to-orthographic transfer in young children
Funded at Yale University · NIH-10984620 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young kids, especially those who haven't learned to read yet, connect the sounds they hear in speech with the letters they see in writing, to help us understand how they learn to read better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $132,867 |
| NIH project number | 1K99HD113838-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10984620 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years, particularly those who are pre-literate or have recently begun learning to read.
✕Less likely to help
Children who are already proficient readers or those outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how young children, particularly those who are pre-literate, learn to connect sounds in spoken language with their written forms. By examining the statistical patterns in language exposure, the study aims to uncover how these patterns influence literacy development. The research employs behavioral and neural measures, including EEG, to assess how children process auditory and visual language information. This could provide insights into the cognitive mechanisms that support reading skills in early childhood.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance literacy development strategies for young children, leading to improved reading skills.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the links between auditory and visual language processing, but this specific focus on pre-literate children is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Isbilen, Erin — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Isbilen, Erin
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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.