Understanding how children with severe cerebral palsy learn language using eye gaze technology
Official title: Measuring language comprehension and learning in children with severe cerebral palsy with eye gaze approaches
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11160903 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how kids with severe cerebral palsy can use eye gaze technology to better understand language and learn, with the hope of creating communication tools that fit their unique needs and help them express themselves more easily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | June 3, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $415,717 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC020613-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160903 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years with severe cerebral palsy and significant speech and motor impairments.
✕Less likely to help
Children without severe speech or motor impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how children with severe cerebral palsy, who often struggle with communication, can use eye gaze technology to improve their language comprehension and learning. By employing innovative eye-gaze techniques, the study aims to assess the receptive language abilities of these children, providing insights into their vocabulary and learning capabilities. The goal is to develop better augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems that cater to the unique needs of children with severe speech and motor impairments. This approach could help tailor AAC devices to individual children's language profiles, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve communication options for children with severe cerebral palsy, enabling them to express themselves and learn more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Similar eye-gaze techniques have shown success in assessing language abilities in other populations, suggesting potential for this novel application in children with cerebral palsy.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hustad, Katherine C — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Hustad, Katherine C
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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.