Understanding how early child and parent factors affect language development in children.

Early Predictors to School Age Language: Individual and Interactional Child and Parent Factors

NIH-funded research University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-10528439

This study looks at how both kids and their parents can affect how well children, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, learn to talk as they get ready for school, by watching their conversations and language skills over time.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States)
Project IDNIH-10528439 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how individual and interactional factors from both children and their parents influence language development as children transition to school age. By tracking language use in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and typically developing peers over several years, the study aims to identify early predictors of language skills. The methodology includes analyzing children's grammatical, semantic, and pragmatic language usage, as well as parent-child conversational dynamics. This comprehensive approach seeks to understand the complexities of language acquisition and its variability among children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and typically developing children aged 2.5 years to 8 years.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 8 years or do not have a diagnosis of ASD may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for supporting language development in children, particularly those with ASD.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in understanding language development in children with ASD, making this approach both relevant and promising.

Where this research is happening

Storrs-Mansfield, 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 2026-06-15 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.